Rand Park: A Future in Farm-to-Table Cuisine?

As of now, the local community surrounding Rand Park views its grounds as part of the Montclair High School campus. The area does not serve the neighborhood as a public park; it is seen as more of a garbage dump. How can we, the students of MHS, change the landscape of Rand Park from a trash can to a safe environment for outdoor recreation?

AP Biology students observing the garden's growth

Our AP Biology teacher spearheaded the effort to create an edible garden in Rand Park. Varieties of lettuce, peas, herbs, and other vegetables were planted in raised beds in May with the intention to bring back a feeling of community that would thrive in the center of Montclair. In order to succeed in our gardening capabilities, we will need to utilize the help of the MHS student body. By addressing the first problem in the park, the amount of garbage left during our lunch periods, we can make the area healthier and safer for those who come to enjoy it. Other biology classes can participate in maintaining and expanding the garden in the coming years to promote that healthy, organic food can be grown anywhere with the right resources and support.

A young snap pea grown in Rand Park

 After our first harvest of the mature pea plants, one was offered to a passerby. He responded in disgust, questioning our sanity for eating something grown so close to students and their unpredictable behaviors. Our teacher joked that the freshmen peed on the peas and the individual seriously agreed, addressing how untrustworthy teenagers can be. How could he be repulsed by a piece of produce, grown without a trace of pesticides a few feet away, but willingly buy fruits and vegetables at the grocery store that have been manhandled across the country? The amount of chemicals that are used to grow and maintain produce for sale is staggering. A recent report from the Environmental Working Group stated that fruits such as grapes and strawberries are sprayed with over 35 types of pesticides; imported varieties can be in contact with even more. A simple washing with water does not rid produce of the added pesticides because thin skin allows chemicals to seep in and heavy waxing also traps pesticides underneath.  


The Montclair Fund for Educational Excellence, with the help of the PTA Council and Partners for Health Foundation, launched a school garden initiative in Montclair to promote the importance of school gardens. The program is called Montclair DIGS (District Initative for Gardening in our Schools) and has assisted our efforts in creating and popularizing gardening at Montclair High. The group is not new but the school only just recently tapped into the funds from the MFEE to start a gardening initiative in Rand Park. With support from Montclair DIGS, students can extend the garden's potential through donations to food banks and a miniature farmer's market in the MHS cafeteria.

Knowing what is used to nurture and protect your food is valuable information, so why not know by growing your own? With a joined effort from MHS Biology classes, we can cultivate knowledgeable students as well as healthy food to improve the the school as well as the surrounding community in the near future.