Roxanne Archer of New Portland, one of the codirectors of the Solon Elementary After School Community Garden, is pictured with students Jasmyne Pray and Brianna Barstow as they dig up a crate full of new potatoes in their vegetable garden last week. (Laura Dunham photo) SOLON — This is the first year that the Solon Elementary School has held classes on gardening every Thursday after school and what a success it has been as the vegetable garden grew and grew producing everything from new potatoes, to carrots, a bed of zucchini, cabbage, cukes, string beans, beets and even a section on herbs and beautiful sunflowers.

Helping the second and third grade students have been co-directors Ellie Howell from Solon, Roxanne Archer of New Portland along with the director of the program, Wendy Witham of Embden.

Archer said that the directors have had on an average of 20 students a week taking part in the program along with the community members who have come to give their support.

Daniel Hills, a second grade student at the Solon Elementary School, and Ian McHugh, a third grade student, show off the zucchinis they grew in their school’s community garden. (Laura Dunham photo) “This is where school and community meet for the needs of the children,” said the directors. “Now we will start every Thursday giving the students cooking lessons. This week the second and third grade students harvested their community garden taking home their vegetable’s to share,” said Witham.