A new student-led garden project at Ridgefield High School is creating opportunities for hands-on learning, sustainability education, and collaboration across multiple programs and departments.

The Spudder Eats Garden Project was created to support culinary arts education while teaching students about sustainable gardening and farm-to-table food systems. Beyond growing fresh produce, the garden gives students opportunities to develop leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, and real-world skills through a project that benefits the entire school community.

The project came together thanks to the generosity of several local businesses, including Shovel and Thumb, Tractor Supply, Rodda Paint, and Shipp Brothers Landscaping. Their support helped transform the vision into reality in a remarkably short time.

The garden is also the result of an outstanding collaborative effort among Ridgefield High School students and staff.

Construction teacher Dave Trujillo and his students built four raised garden beds and helped fill them with soil. Emily Whitton's Environmental Science classes tested the soil, assisted with garden design, filled the beds, and worked alongside Spudder Eats students to plant vegetable starts.

Additional programs soon joined the effort. Art students created the vibrant "Let's Grow Together" mural under the guidance of Tami Hoodenpyl, while students in Jared Hundley's classes designed a commemorative plaque recognizing the project and its community partners.

"This would not have been possible without all of these incredible educators and our amazing Spudders across so many classes," said culinary arts teacher Sam Shipp, who helped lead the project. "Words cannot express my gratitude for the collaboration and willingness to help."

The Spudder Eats Garden Project showcases the power of community partnerships and cross-curricular learning, creating meaningful experiences that connect classroom lessons with real-world applications while helping cultivate the next generation of leaders.