Sultry summer is a hot time for volunteering at Newton Elementary School’s garden.

Dozens of folks from nearby neighborhoods are showing up every other week for Tilling and Tending Tuesdays. It’s a friendly, multicultural affair open to all ages.

Volunteers get to take home fresh veggies and herbs. That means cabbage, collard greens, peppers, tomatoes, celery, turnips, spinach, sage and a whole lot more. Some of the vegetables – including a harvest of 100 banana sweet peppers – are served up in the cafeteria during the school year, part of the division’s many efforts to put locally grown food on the school menu.

Kevin Rickard, Newtown’s Instructional Technology Specialist, publicizes the latest garden news on Facebook and the Nextdoor neighborhood platform.

A Virginia Beach Education Foundation grant helped sprout the garden in 2015, thanks to former Newtown teacher Amanda Howse. Rickard brought his experience growing up in rural Arkansas and starting the garden at his former school, Seatack Elementary – An Achievable Dream Academy.

He loves it when his students point to food on their cafeteria trays and say, “Look, this comes from the garden!” They’ve discovered that the broccoli they’ve grown themselves — well, it tastes pretty good.

Yusuf Hornung attends a private school in Norfolk, but likes riding his bike to Newtown for Tilling Tuesdays.

“I like doing something productive,” he said.

Jeanie Lawson brings her family to volunteer at the garden.

“It’s important that kids learn how to grow food,” she says. “I’m glad to help out.”

Carol Johnson started volunteering about 11 years ago as part of the Sons of Norway organization.

“During the school year, we have an after-school garden club and the kids are learning a lot,” she said. “It was very exciting when we got the raspberries and blackberries going.”

A local conservation horticulturalist is helping the school turn its butterfly garden into a native plant pollinator garden.

Cameron Rollins said he volunteers to pass on something positive to the community.

“I’m looking for gardening tips,” he added. “That’s why I’m here.”

Mikelle Williams said that since becoming Newtown’s principal, he watched the garden grow from a small learning space into a centerpiece of our school community.

“Thanks to Mr. Rickard’s vision, passion, and dedication, the program has become an incredible learning experience for our students and families,” Williams said. “As the garden has flourished, so have the opportunities for our students.”

Those opportunities include Rickard having students observe the repeating patterns of the garden’s picket fence, measure the garden beds and plant seeds 6 inches apart. They take the temperature of the compost pile and the soil.

Students were curious about what was going on in the garden at night, so Rickard set up a camera to capture visits from foxes, racoons and other nocturnal wildlife.

“They are learning where healthy food comes from, enjoying fresh produce in cafeteria salads, and experiencing hands-on lessons that simply can’t be replicated in a classroom,” Williams said. “Our school garden is more than a place where things grow—it’s where curiosity, responsibility, healthy habits, and community take root.”

Want to get involved?

• Tilling and Tending Tuesdays continue 5-6 p.m. every other Tuesday through the end of August. Email Rickard@VBSchools.com for more information or RSVP here.
• WAVE Church will be partnering with Newtown Elementary on Aug. 8 for a Day of Service, helping with garden improvements.
• Donate to the garden and other Newtown Elementary causes: https://www.donorschoose.org/donors/search.html?school=35050&includeNearbyLocations=true
• Many VBCPS sites have gardens. Contact your local school to see if they need volunteers!
• The Virginia Beach Education Foundation funds innovating learning opportunities for students at VBCPS. Visit org for more information.