Hilltop Hanover Farm & Environmental Center unveiled its Education Garden, an upgraded area designed to be a dynamic, interactive farming demonstration space. This innovative garden and its outdoor classroom will be a central educational hub visited by thousands of school-age children annually.
The Education Garden is fully ADA-compliant, which ensures accessibility for visitors of all abilities and allows everyone to participate hands-on in the farming process. The eight in-ground and two fully ADA-compliant raised beds for growing food, in addition to a planted perimeter that features a mix of local ecotype native plants, demonstrates the interconnectedness of our food, environments and human well-being.
The addition of permeable paving helps mitigate flooding by absorbing stormwater, while a rainwater capture system collects runoff from the roof of a newly constructed outdoor classroom portico that turns the site into a living lesson on sustainable water use. The covered outdoor classroom provides a year-round learning environment protected from the elements, and the newly built tool shed ensures that tools used by students and volunteers are stored safely and efficiently.
County Executive Ken Jenkins said: “Hilltop Hanover Farm’s Education Garden was designed to demonstrate what sustainable, inclusive and educational agriculture can look like. It’s a space that brings the community together while modeling environmental best practices. The Farm’s civic involvement and preservation of farmland strengthen food security, inspire environmental stewardship and empower the next generation of farmers.”
Hilltop Hanover is a leader in promoting sustainable agriculture, environmental stewardship and equitable food systems. It donates 25 percent of its annual harvest through a dozen local food access partners. All food grown in the Education Garden is donated through its food access partners.
Commissioner of the Westchester County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation Kathy O’Connor said: “Educating the public on farming practices is one of Hilltop Hanover Farm’s top priorities, and the addition of its Education Garden will add a new layer of hands-on learning and inspiration for visitors of all ages.”
The Education Garden was made possible through generous financial support from The Friends of Hilltop Hanover Farm, Con Edison, and an anonymous foundation.
Hilltop Hanover Farm & Environmental Center is owned and operated by the Westchester County Department of Parks, Recreation & Conservation. It’s located at 1271 Hanover Street in Yorktown Heights, NY.
For more information about Hilltop Hanover Farm & Environmental Center, please visit hilltophanoverfarm.org.