Chesterton Gardens

Like the Commercial Farm, Chesterton Gardens is a goal we’re working towards. We currently have an apiary and students are learning about the wonderful creature, the honeybee! In addition to this on-campus activity we regularly visit local farms to serve, learn, and become familiar with the Willamette Valley. Highlights from 2018-19 include our trip to Scenic Valley Winery and Fordyce Farms.

Chesterton Garden Vision: The vision for the Gardens is to provide students the opportunity to cultivate a love for growing things through hands-on learning. The Gardens will include a greenhouse, a garden , a small orchard, an apiary, and more activities and areas as we develop.

Academically, students will be introduced to the sciences, philosophy, and applied sciences necessary for agriculture. These enriching lessons and activities help nourish the agrarian virtues for the rest of life, whether students become engineers, teachers, farmers, or priests. A sampling of how we see the Gardens working includes: students practicing basic horticulture by raising seedlings in the greenhouse, planting flower and vegetable gardens, and growing an orchard. The hands-on activities will nicely complement lessons in biology, chemistry, economics, and more.