This week, students in the biology/ecology classes of the International Academy had the opportunity to interview members of the TC Garden Club. The TC Garden Club is sponsored by Patrick Earle, science teacher at TC Williams (outside of the International Academy). Mr. Earle and the Garden Club members meet every Wednesday to care for the TC Discovery Garden just a few minutes' walk from the TC Williams campus. The Discovery Garden and surrounding community gardens are all organic, using compost made from TC Williams kitchen scraps as a main source of nutrients for the plants.
Students in the biology/ecology classes have spent much of the school year learning about organic versus industrial farming. Students have learned how the use of excess chemical fertilizers can lead to dead zones in the Chesapeake Bay, how pesticide use can cause unintended health effects in both people and animals, and that there are both pros and cons to growing genetically modified organisms. The students in the I.A. were able to ask the TC Garden Club members about their experiences maintaining an organic garden to hear a first-person perspective on what organic farming may be like.