High School Students Help Prepare Learning Garden

Middlesex County Vocational Schools Perth Amboy Campus Culinary Students Learn Value of Organic Produce 

Culinary students from Middlesex County Vocational Schools’ Perth Amboy Campus visited Hackensack Meridian Health Raritan Bay Medical Center-Perth Amboy in April. This was the first of five visits the students will make to help the medical center’s Integrative Health & Medicine team prepare Raritan Bay’s Learning Garden, and then plant produce, for the upcoming growing season.

The Learning Garden program, now in its fifth year, focuses on educating the community and Raritan Bay team members about the benefits of organic container gardening and the nutritional and medicinal value of fresh produce. Raritan Bay’s medical staff and select community partners fund the garden and Nina Regevik, M.D., ABIHM, medical director of Integrative Health & Medicine at Raritan Bay and Master Gardener Connie Elek provide education.

Community garden education sessions are held every Tuesday, 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. beginning May 14 through October. In addition, volunteers are needed to help maintain the Learning Garden.  Registration is required to attend sessions or volunteer.

A free Garden to Table seminar with presenter Meena Sinha, M.D., will be held Thursday, May 30, 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m., at Raritan Bay Perth Amboy. Dr. Sinha will discuss the nutritional and medicinal value of ginger, giloy, turmeric and tulsi (holy basil). A cooking demonstration, using produce from the garden, will be provided and attendees will receive healthy recipes and free food samples.

To register for the Garden to Table seminar or education sessions, volunteer to assist with the garden or for more information, call 732-324-5257.