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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · May 19, 1904

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 81, No. 20.

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Our Garden

By Naomi L. Worthen

THE building used as a schoolhouse during the first year of the church-school at Taftsville, Vt., had not a foot of ground connected with it for school use.
It was spring when we moved on to the new place, but the work had been begun before this. Its beginning was the study and agitation of the subject which led to a real interest on the part of the school board and others of the patrons of the school, so that they were committed to the task of carrying it forward.
In the schoolroom selections from the Testimonies were studied; and with this subject in mind, it seemed as if the Psalms and other parts of the Word which were read at the opening exercises of school each morning were running over with thoughts regarding God’s co-operation with man in bringing blessing to those who till the ground for and to his glory.
Taking pattern from the Model Gardener, who planted things “pleasant to the sight” as well as “good for food,” we planned for flowers, and began the work with them. For a drawing lesson, the children put on paper their ideas as to the shape and arrangement of a flower-bed, and then at recess or other spare time, measured the ground, spaded it up, prepared for seed, and planted flowers. The vegetable garden was plowed and prepared for seed by the donor of the ground, and all along there have been donations of work or seed or other help by those not in the school. The children wrote out their choice of crops, and then were assigned a part of the ground where they should plant. Potatoes, squashes, pop-corn, and beans were the crops raised. The potatoes did well, and the squashes better, and formed the principal source of profit that year. About three hundred strawberry plants which were set out, gave promise of benefit at a later time. The few berries which were picked that season were sent to a sick woman who lived near by, as the first fruits of the soil.
“Harvest Ingathering” that year was a good time to the church and Sabbath-school, of which the church-school is a large part, and with the beautiful display from the gardens and fields of the adjoining farms, were samples of the school garden produce which showed results of the efforts put forth.
A paper entitled “Our School Garden” was read by one of the older pupils, while the younger ones had Bible verses, etc., appropriate for the occasion. Nearly all the senior members told some lessons they had learned from nature that year, and young and old brought an offering to God. One fourth of the profit of each garden was set apart for missions, one fourth for the school fund, one fourth to go toward the tuition of the pupil, and the remainder for his own personal use.
The next spring a larger and more profitable garden was planted, and flowers more bright and thrifty were grown. In the fall about five hundred more strawberry plants were set out, and that number will doubtless be doubled this spring.
The gardening seems to be a permanent part of the school work at Taftsville, and a very helpful and important part. It is something in which parents and friends can work together with teacher and pupils, and it brings blessing by drawing them together, and drawing all nearer to the Lord. And it is true that God speaks to the soul that is quietly listening to his voice while out among his works, and teaches precious lessons through the things that he has made.
Financially, too, this work has been made a success, and will doubtless prove much more so as the work is carried on still further with the blessing of God.
In the school here at Cliff Island (Maine) preparations for work of this kind have been made, though in a different way. Instead of confining missionary gardening to the church-school, it has been planned for the whole Sabbath-school to have a part in it. Each teacher with his class is to cultivate a piece of ground, and under the supervision of an experienced farmer, who is also chairman of the school board, we hope for good results from the work here. A report may be given later of the agricultural work in this place.
NAOMI L. WORTHEN.