Making the Green Scene

Markeem calls his plant "The Creature" and checks up on the thriving succulent every time he visits. Clearly, some of the teens at The Beacon have gotten a little attached to the plants they've been growing.

It started with the rooftop Garden Club last summer, as something to do at a quiet time of year. They began with existing plants — herbs, beans, mint — and learned how to propagate them, watering cycles, and the differing needs of each plant. They developed a particular fascination with carnivorous plants, so the club started growing pitcher plants, sundews, and Venus flytraps, feeding them crickets and cubes of nutrients.

Wise, who has been tending the project since the beginning, started noticing that interest was growing, and that members have different levels of willingness to get their hands dirty. So, they branched out by creating Green Scene with a general outdoors focus, connecting it to other clubs like Science and Games, with activities like building bird feeders and painting ceramic pots for plants. This summer, the newly-rebranded Green Scene is open to all under-18 FC members. As with many of our programs, older members will help staff plan and implement the program, and help younger participants absorb its lessons in gardening basics, and the all-important skill: patience.

This week, they shared the sunshine while working on projects inspired by the natural world, including birdhouses and bird feeders. Green Scene has officially sprouted up for the season, ando offers great opportunities for our under-18 crew to enjoy the rooftop green space, connect with others, and spend time outdoors this summer.