The question that arises again and again as we build beds at Albany High School is roughly this: Aren’t you worried that disrespectful kids will trample whatever you try to grow?
The beds near the North Main Avenue entrance to the school grounds, across from the Albany Youth Soccer fields, are quite exposed. Beyond squirrels, however, they have drawn no unwanted attention in their first year. No
w we are setting up closer to the building, by the phys ed parking lot. The shortest distance between two points that students could visit might be right through our cabbage.
So to address the recurring question: Without a doubt, something frustrating and annoying definitely could happen. Students or other kids can be disrespectful (same could be said for full-fledged adults). On the other hand, maybe we can foster respect for surroundings and care for a community by building something worthy of respect and care and then make every effort to tell all those suspicious youths under 90 or so that these garden beds belong to them. In other words, rather than conveying expectations that they’ll disappoint again, give our friends an opportunity to live up to the great things we expect of them.
Isn’t that what teaching is all about? Any harm in trying?
—Bill Stoneman
sely near our raised beds at Albany High and you will see a line of 11 small ornamentals. Students in one of Larry Bizzarro’s earth science classes planted them last week in a modest observation of the 45th annual Earth Day. And we would like you to know that these plants are native to the Northeast. Indeed, you might say we organized this planting to start a conversation about native plants.
Why? The Vermont company’s focus on providing seeds with the best prospects of doing well in our organic gardens in the Northeast. As 
