This past summer Morse High School student Elizabeth Schotten volunteered at the LOCAL Garden as part of an independent project for the Morse STEAM Academy, a learning initiative focused on science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics.

Schotten renovated the keyhole garden, an educational feature located in the center of the garden space. A keyhole garden, originally called an African Kitchen Garden, is a self-sustaining, efficient design that distributes moisture and nutrients from decomposing compost to adjacent growing plants. A basket compost bin is placed centrally in the plot encircled by 18 inch walls and dirt is then piled in a downward slope surrounding the the compost . The nutrients and moisture from the compost then can run throughout the garden and reach the growing plants. At the beginning of October, arugula greens and radishes were thriving in the space.

With the guidance of Garden Coordinator Laurie Burhoe and KELT Operations Coordinator Charlotte Thompson, Schotten pulled weeds, built the rock wall encompassing the keyhole garden, and added a compost basket in the center.

“I was happy to take on this project, the completion of it was extremely rewarding,” Schotten said in a press release. “Although, my interests in biology are more healthcare based, I enjoyed exploring a different branch of the subject I love.”

Located off of High Street in south Bath and managed by Kennebec Estuary Land Trust since 2016, LOCAL Garden is a demonstration garden dedicated to community engagement through educational opportunities for people of all ages as well as food donations to local citizens.

The LOCAL Garden stands for “Leading Our Community in Agricultural Learning” and is an extension of KELT’s goal to protect agricultural land in the region. The garden contains 42 raised beds maintained by two part-time garden coordinators and volunteers.

This year, more than 500 local students have ventured into the LOCAL Garden to learn about gardening in addition to volunteering to plant and harvest food and flowers. More than 900 pounds of produce have been donated to local area partners, such as Bath Housing and to Bath Middle School’s annual “Harvest Dinner.”

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