Three sites owned by the county school system could one day host vegetable gardens, a move closer to the demands of advocates that want gardens on school property.
"I see this as the first step, an opportunity to work with MCPS. We can show them community gardens can be run according to guidelines," said Ursula Sabia Sukinik, community gardens coordinator for the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission, who attended a hearing on the topic at the Montgomery County Council on Tuesday.
The three sites are: Spring Mill Center on Kemp Mill Road in Silver Spring, Rocking Horse Center on Macon Road in Rockville and Emory Grove Center on Washington Grove Lane in Gaithersburg.
Montgomery County Public Schools policy does not allow community vegetable gardens on property where there is a school. The school system has a Garden Work Group that is developing criteria for vegetable gardens, according to an Oct. 7 letter from school superintendant Jerry. D. Weast to the school board. At Tuesday's council meeting, Wendy Friar, chairman of the Montgomery County Commission on Health, urged the school system to "remove the ban on MCPS vegetable gardens. The policy is inconsistent with promoting better health," she said. SOURCE: Gazette
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