Mayor Chris Louras, Superintendent Mary Moran, and RMS students cut the ribbon to open the garden.

This Wednesday at 1:00, Mayor Chris Louras  visited RMS and RIS to help lead the official kickoff of the RMS-RIS Community Garden. Mayor Louras volunteered his time to help rototill our plot of land. With his help, students can now get started planting the early spring crops.

The Community Garden in a whole-region project designed to link learning and service to the community. Thanks to the collaboration of the Rutland City Public Schools , the Forestry and Natural Resources Program at Stafford Technical Center, RAFFL, Sustainable Rutland, Rutland Parks and Recreation Department, the Tapestry Program, and Judy and Mayor Christopher Louras, Rutland City students will be growing a variety of vegetables and herbs throughout the spring, summer and fall months. The goal is to find hands-on opportunities to make learning tangible. At the same time, our students want to serve by growing food that can be used this year by those in need.

The garden will be tended during the school year by students and faculty from both the Middle and Intermediate Schools , and in the summer by staff and students from the Tapestry Program, the district’s award-winning after-school and summer program. The Louras family will tend the garden during times when neither school nor Tapestry is in session. RAFFL board members Carol Tashie and Jon Place are working closely with school personnel to support the development of this garden project. RAFFL board president, Greg Cox of Boardman Hill Farm, has generously donated seeds and starter plants, as well as his professional expertise, to the students and staff.