The Hamilton City School District is partnering with Hamilton Urban Garden System, a non-profit community service organization, to start a community garden in every building in the district over the next two years.

“Last year, we had a lot of benefits from keeping the school garden,” said Brookwood Elementary School’s Dean of Students Kim Westrick. “So we thought that every school would benefit.”

HUGS will work with each of Hamilton’s eight elementary schools and the Hamilton Freshman School this spring to install at least two raised garden beds at each location, according to HUGS director Alfred Hall. Next year, the program will expand to the junior high schools and high school.

“There is no subject in school that you cannot use a school garden to teach,” Hall said.

“Gardens help build confidence and collaboration, builds every positive character trait you can imagine,” he said. “Children need to understand that carrots don’t come from Kroger, they come from the ground, and working a garden helps them understand that.”

Through the school gardens, Hall said students will encourage their families to start gardens and become more food independent.

HUGS was formed three years ago to create and maintain an urban garden system in Hamilton. The group currently operates two community gardens, an 11,000-square foot plot at Wilson Pool Park on Cleveland Avenue and a 39,000-square foot piece of land in University Commerce Park, south of Marshall Avenue.

HUGS has received some funding the Cincinnati Civic Garden Center to train teachers on how to create and sustain a raised box garden and use them in their instruction.

The start-up cost will be about $200 per school, which includes building the box and supplying the seeds and tools. The money will come from individual school fund-raising.

Superintendent Janet Baker said that there had been some concern that the gardens would grow wild and untidy when students aren’t there, but Hall has assured the district that will not be the case under this agreement.

“We will involve local garden clubs and master gardeners to help us maintain the gardens and make sure they stay neat when school is not in session,” Hall said.

To make a donation to support the school/community gardens, visit www.urlmd.com/hugs.