The Tower Gardens are a Hit at Hewitt!

At the start of the new year, the STEM teacher for E.G. Hewitt Intermediate School, Sue Emmick was
eager to get the tower gardens up and running! “It has been a great addition to the STEM program”.
First the students started to learn about each part of the plant, by doing hands on activities to explore
the inside of a seed, the roots, stem, leaves and the process of photosynthesis. The seed was probably
the student’s favorite part because they couldn’t wait to plant the seeds in the towers. Each student
planted seeds, placed the vermiculite and watered them. Once the growth began the students started
writing their observations and watched as the plants have grown.
Currently, the first tower is doing great! It looks like it is almost ready to be harvested. The second tower
has a slower growth pace but is progressing as well. The students have been actively problem solving as
they adjust the lights and ph levels. Hopefully soon, everyone will be enjoying a fresh salad made from
the fruits of their labor!
Our team is made up of employees from the Borough of Ringwood Health Department, Recreation
Department, Department of Public Works, and the Ringwood Board of Education. Our goal is to provide
health and wellness opportunities to the Ringwood residents.