To be a positive force for change, you may need to get your hands dirty. Just ask CHT intern Isaac Margulius.
For the last three summers, Isaac has planted gardens and led enrichment activities for kids living in South Meadow Apartments in Burlington. He organized gardening activities for youth sharing a “kids’ garden” among the community garden beds at South Meadow. The young gardeners can grow whatever plants they choose. Isaac also plans games and snacks for all the participants to enjoy.
“It’s been a really successful season for the garden program,” says Isaac. “The response from the residents has been great. It has been super fun to get to know the kids and their families.”
This year, Isaac wanted to “go big” so he took on additional responsibilities and expanded the youth gardening program to include field trips (including a factory tour at Burton in South Burlington), and helped organize an end of summer party for families at South Meadow with food, games, and a bouncy castle that was especially popular.
Isaac also expanded his role as an intern and took on projects outside of South Meadow’s gardens, supporting CHT’s community garden program which coordinates garden beds and workshops at several CHT properties. Resident gardeners grow a variety of vegetables, herbs, and flowers. Each gardener puts a lot of time, care, and work into their assigned garden beds – and they build friendships and community as they tend their plants and grow their gardens.
Isaac has noticed more and more kids taking an interest in gardening, finding new plants they want to grow.
“They planted all sorts of things. Sometimes they did not even know what it was, but they love it.” Isaac takes pride in seeing the kids’ interest in gardening grow – and the joy they share in the garden.