A garden overseen by Newtown High School Greenery students and teacher Shawn Mullen is sprouting many vegetables, which are being donated to local food pantries through Real Food CT ... And the garden is only in its first season.

Standing in the garden, which is located next to the parking lot near the building’s cafeteria, Mullen shared that the garden only recently began producing ready-to-eat vegetables. Within its first week of having harvestable vegetables, Mullen said Real Food CT was able to harvest enough food to donate to two local food pantries.

“The main goal for this garden is to grow food for Real Food [CT],” said Mullen.

Real Food CT, formerly called Real Food Share, is a local nonprofit founded in 2019 by CT Master Gardener Sean Fitzpatrick with a mission to grow and distribute nutritious food to people in need. Many may be familiar with its stand at the Newtown Farmers Market, which Fitzpatrick is one of the market masters of.

The garden is new at NHS.

Mullen shared that through grants, lots of hands-on work from classes, and help from family and friends, the garden came together. Groups that contributed to the garden through grants include Whole Kids Foundation, Newtown Education Association, and We Care Denali.

Mullen has been teaching the students about “growing with a purpose,” which is one of the reasons the garden donates its vegetables to Real Food CT.

The fence was added in the fall. The garden has timers and soakers on one side, and more are expected to be installed shortly. Raised garden beds line one area. There are plants sprouting everywhere.

Mullen said the garden includes things like butternut squash, cantaloupe, beets, radishes, potatoes, onions, carrots, herbs, and some berries, which the students snack on as they work.

Just last year, Mullen said the area where the garden is was “wicked overgrown.” And now it is producing some of the best plants he has ever seen. Mullen attributed the spectacular growth to mycorrhizal fungi, which is in healthy abundance in the area’s soil.

Seeing the garden be “fruitful” in the spring really drives all of the lessons from throughout the year home for the students, Mullen said.

Education Editor Eliza Hallabeck can be reached at eliza@thebee.com.