Academy of Our Lady science students sow ‘seeds of faith’

Pictured above: Salesian Sister Janna San Juan helps one of her environmental science students construct a new garden bed at Academy of Our Lady High School in Marrero. For more images of their garde overhaul, please visit the Clarion Herald’s Facebook page. (Photos courtesy of Academy of Our Lady)

Salesian Sister Janna San Juan and her environmental science students at Academy of Our Lady (AOL) in Marrero are taking Pope Francis’ call to be stewards of the environment seriously. This year, after studying the pope’s environmental encyclical, “Laudato Si,” the students decided to refurbish and expand their on-campus vegetable garden.

“The environment has been one of my passions for many years now, and ‘Laudato Si’ has definitely given words to that passion,” Sister Janna said. “God has given us many gifts, and it's our moral responsibility to care for it. I'm grateful that I'm able to share that with the students.”

After weeding the garden’s existing beds, the students used power tools to build additional garden boxes, added soil and planted seeds – choosing crops commonly used by AOL’s on-campus culinary classes.

“Seeing the students work with power tools to build the beds was incredible – having a literal workshop experience was something very different from what we typically do in class, and what they do in general,” Sister Janna said. “With it comes a sense of empowerment, especially since working with power tools can sometimes be seen as only a ‘guy thing.’”

“At first it was frustrating because the seeds weren’t sprouting, but once they started growing it was an eye opener about how special our environment is,” said senior Angelina Verberne. “Once the crops were done growing and seeing the produce that it produced was an amazing feeling knowing that I started that and watched something come to life. It was so easy, and we really need to show and teach people so they can start doing it themselves.”

Salesian Sister Michelle Geiger, AOL’s principal, said she was proud of her students for taking charge of the project from start to finish.

“The environmental science class is responding in a concrete way to the ‘Cry of the Earth’ by their gardening project,” Sister Michelle said. “They did their research on what to plant at this time of year and in this region, built their own beds, and took care of the tending of the garden.”

Sister Michelle said the lessons learned went “beyond the simple textbook to the nitty-gritty, practical aspects of growing food, sharing it with others and understanding the environmental impact of chemical or natural fertilization and pesticides.”

“Today’s learners need to be challenged to go beyond the four walls of the classroom,” she said. “This is a simple way to make the learning come alive and help the young be responsible to make our world a bit more sustainable.”