The sweet smell of basil drifted down the hallways of Discovery High School in late May. Parents, teachers, and neighbors anxiously chased the scent down to classroom 279, where Steven Ritz and his science classes hosted a Farmers Market and Edible Plant Sale.
At the event, guests were not only able to purchase a selection of fresh veggies, plants, and flowers, but also learn about the unique science curriculum Ritz has created.
“This is my portable science lab,” Ritz explained. “Unlike software that gets outdated and textbooks which are expensive; this room is a constant learning resource.” Ritz says he started bringing plants into the classroom in order to give his students a hands on lesson. But what began as a science teacher’s teaching tool has now grown into a mission to make the entire borough eat and grow healthy food.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
The Bronx Green Machine Goes 'Above and Beyond'
Friday, April 8, 2011
Discovery High School Scores Wellness Award
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| Discovery High School students and science teacher Steve Ritz (right) serve home-grown vegetables at a luncheon last spring. (Photo by G. Ciliberto) |
Students at Discovery have spent the past several years, under the guidance of gardening guru and science teacher Steve Ritz, cultivating their own on-premise organic herb and vegetable gardens. The students have hosted green cafeteria luncheons and farmer's markets and donated their homegrown produce to local soup kitchens.
Last fall, the group built garden installations---complete with their own irrigation systems--for the NBC Experience Store, on 49th Street in Manhattan.
According to a press release, the NYC Strategic Alliance for Health chose Discovery "because it offers schools an innovative and successful model for breaking the cycle of poor eating habits by providing instant access to healthy produce."
An awards ceremony will be hosted by Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. on Tuesday April 12, at the Main Rotunda of Bronx Borough Hall starting at 11 a.m.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Bronx News Roundup, Nov. 19
CNN profiled Discovery High School students and teacher Steve Ritz for their community gardening program (photos and videos at the link). The group has been growing hundred of pounds of vegetables in their classroom over the past few years, hosting luncheons and a farmers market on campus yesterday.
Plans for the first Bronx Children's Museum are finally underway, with a 2013 opening predicted for the new space in a building at Mill Pond Park, near the Bronx Terminal Market. The new director is holding a forum tomorrow to get input from parents and community members for what they'd like to see at the museum. It will be held at BronxWorks' Community Room, 1130 Grand Concourse, from 11 a.m to 1 p.m.
David Johnson, a former aide to Governor Paterson, appeared in a Bronx court yesterday. He faces assault charges for allegedly attacking his girlfriend in her apartment on Halloween in 2009.
Two talented runners at Bronx High School of Science helped the school's cross country team win the PSAL Bronx Championship this season.
Police are keeping an extra close eye on Jose Rodriguez, the 27-year-old Bronx man who escaped custody in New Jersey earlier this week by taking off in an unmarked NYPD car--while still in cuffs. He was finally caught early Thursday morning in Connecticut; he faces charges related to a Nov. 1 shooting in the Bronx.
A 19-year-old Bronx man was beaten on a New Jersey road Wednesday night during a road rage incident. Police are still looking for four occupants of the other car involved in the alleged assault.
The MTA is installing cameras along certain express bus routes in the city--including Fordham Road--to catch motorists who drive or stop in bus lines.
South Bronx documentary film "80 Blocks from Tiffany's" is being rereleased on DVD next week.
Estrellita Poblano III, on Arthur Avenue, has been named one of the city's top 10 mexican restaurants by the village voice.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Bronx Events: Discovery H.S. Farmers Market This Thursday, 11/18
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| Discovery High School students installed a living green wall at an NBC store in Manhattan. (Photo courtesy of Steve Ritz) |
This is not their first green foray--the students already hosted two luncheons last year, serving only food they grew and harvested. Last week, they built garden installations (with their own irrigation systems!) in the NBC Experience Store, on 49th Street in Manhattan (see above photo).
Stop by Thursday for some fresh organic produce; all proceeds from the market will benefit the school's programs. Other Bronx events this week are listed in our calendar, below.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Students Serve Green Lunch at Discovery High School
"We grew the food in our garden," explained Danielle Barnes, a student at Discovery.
Samantha Serrano, also a student, elaborated: "We had two gardens. We took surveys from the last lunch and what they liked, we repeated."
The project began when Steven Ritz, a science teacher at Discovery High, used gardening as a way to prepare his students for the Living Environments Regent exam. The class' various gardens and green walls grew into much more than a lesson. They yielded enough crops to stock two luncheons, each feeding 450 people. The lunches also provided an opportunity for students to eat healthy.
"I never thought anything so healthy could be so good," said Christopher Nova, a student at Discovery. "The school usually serves pizza, but this is pretty good."
Explained Jason Concepcion, an aid at Discovery: "These kids need to see the side other than junk food. Even if they don't like it, they can at least say they tried it."
The meal was prepared by the cafeteria staff this morning. The students who grew the vegetables served pesto pasta, salad with red pepper dressing, cole slaw, collard greens, and vegetable wraps.
The students will utilize these skills beyond the Bronx. They were recently hired by the Town of Scarsdale to teach middle school students about green wall and green roof installation at living wage.
[More photos after the jump]
