As the spring season blooms, so does a new Sacred Heart Greenwich herb garden, bringing blossoms and vibrance to campus. Nestled between the Athletic Center and Hayes Hall, the garden embodies a commitment to providing a nurturing environment for the school’s students and faculty. The new garden symbolizes more than nature’s versatility. It represents a budding initiative to foster intellectual curiosity and growth across the interdivisional school community.
The grounds team built the herb garden next to the Athletic Center after sophomores Annie Slocum, Brianna Timlin, Arianna Chin, Lexi Parsons, and Nidhi Ray proposed that the school should have a second garden that can serve as a learning tool as well as provide herbs for school lunch. Although there is a larger main garden on the lower campus, which is about a 15-minute walk away from the main school buildings, the new garden is intended to be more accessible for classes. Recognizing the potential for enrichment, the student members of the Garden Program embarked on a mission to bring gardening closer to the heart of campus life. Brianna, co-founder of the Garden Program, elaborated on her hopes for the future of the two on-campus gardens.
“A group of Upper School students and our faculty mentors meet once a week to work on the new garden,” Brianna said. “In the future, we hope to expand this program within the Upper School and intend to work with the other divisions as well. We envision that the gardening program can be another great way to build community at Sacred Heart.”
The vision of the Garden Program was to establish an interdivisional initiative that goes beyond boundaries, providing students from all grade levels with consistent access to the transformative power of nature. Drawing inspiration from the Lower School’s successful Mustard Seeds Program, which emphasizes nature-based education, educators Ms. Margaret Vondermeden, Mustard Seed Program Teacher, and Dr. David Smigen-Rothkopf, Upper School English Teacher, work with student sustainability leaders to extend similar opportunities to the Middle and Upper School. The Garden Program’s collaboration with existing environmental clubs, such as the Sustainability Club, promises to enrich the program further. Under the guidance of dedicated faculty members and with support from the school administration, the initiative has the potential to gain momentum.
The students who founded the Garden Program believe in gardening’s transformative power as a tool for personal growth and community engagement. By involving members from different divisions, the program seeks to cultivate leadership skills and foster mentorship opportunities. The ultimate aim is to create a supportive environment where students can connect with nature, develop practical skills, and deepen their understanding of environmental stewardship.
Dr. Smigen-Rothkopf serves as a faculty advisor for the program after he helped inspire its development when he brought one of his sophomore English classes outside to enjoy good weather, leading students to notice the potential for a garden. He elaborated upon how a connection with nature fosters interpersonal relationships.
“A connection to nature also fosters connections with each other,” Dr. Smigen-Rothkopf said. “Being stewards of nature through gardening changes our view of the environment, allowing us to reflect on how we can work with nature, rather than against it.”
In a world where screens and schedules dominate daily life, outdoor engagement holds importance. By bringing gardening closer to the school and kitchen facilities, students aim to make the program more accessible and practical for busy schedules. Collaboration with division heads ensures that the initiative reflects the collective aspirations of all students and aligns with the school’s educational objectives.
As stewards of God’s creation, the Sacred Heart community is called to care for the environment and foster a sense of social responsibility. Through the Garden Program, students not only contribute to sustainability efforts but also uphold Christian values of community and stewardship. In nurturing this initiative, Sacred Heart continues to sow the seeds of a brighter, more connected community. Brianna emphasized how having a school garden creates a place of rest and creativity during the school day.
“I think the garden most aligns with Goal Five, ‘personal growth in an atmosphere of wise freedom,’ because the garden offers students a break from the academic day,” Brianna said. “The garden space also provides an opportunity to learn something new and collaborate with other students and faculty in a more relaxed environment.”
Featured Image by Sofia Latrille ’25
