Edgewood's Orchard

Edgewood School opened its doors 100 years ago in an apple orchard on the Cudner-Weed estate pictured above.

How fortunate for the teachers. An endless supply of apples! But according to Edgewood's first principal Mary Piedalue, the kids may have enjoyed life in an orchard the most. She once recalled that "When the apples fell into the children's hands, they made wonderful ammunition."

Carl Schorske, one of Edgewood’s first students, also remembered those apples. When he visited Edgewood in 2008, he told us that students gorged themselves on these Russet apples, also known as "rusty coats," for its skin texture and brownish color.

By the late 20th century these apples were gone from the Edgewood campus. But a few years ago, we started a comeback. A team of Edgewood historians and environmentalists, made up of staff and students, gathered in front of our school and planted a tree. An apple tree.

- Paul Tomizawa

Indoor Growing Season Begins

 

Mr. Fitzpatrick demonstrates
the hydroponics system.

   “Repeat after me,” Mr. Fitz(patrick) cheerfully instructs. “Hydroponics.” The kindergarteners repeat the new word in staggered unison, as you might expect at this age. “We’re using water to grow plants.” And with this, these young learners entered the era of Sustainability.
     The students had come to Mr. Fitz’ art room to learn about the new hydroponics vegetable garden that was being installed in their classroom. In a hydroponics growing system, plants are placed in nutrient-rich water that is fed through a tube and up a vertical structure by a motorized pump. It’s a common hydroponics system that requires no soil and uses less space than a typical garden plot.
     “Criss cross applesauce. So everyone can see,” Mr. Fitz reminded the excitable group of students as they leaned forward and ever higher for a better view. “Are the roots going to stay wet? Yes! And it’s going to pump the water with all the nutrients to the roots of the plant.” In this case, basil, beans, and tomatoes.
     Several Edgewood classrooms are engaged in the hydroponics experiment. It’s part of a larger effort in support of the school’s Compact Committee theme Sustainability. And it’s a reminder that today’s school is more than just Readin’, ‘Ritin’, and ‘Rithmatic. - Paul Tomizawa