The Firdous Community Garden

The Firdous Community Garden at Mohammed Schools of Atlanta has been developed and managed by Sis. Terri Ali. She teaches garden classes 15 to 30 minutes, weekly for grades K thru 10th. Additionally, she serves as the Health and Wellness Director as well. She became certified as a natural grower in 2012 while building Terri’s Backyard Garden where she grew food for her family and for market. Parents, students, teachers and volunteers provide labor and love in keeping the garden alive.

Currently, Mohammed Schools of Atlanta has a school Garden that produces food all year round with the help of students and volunteers. Recently, the school has installed Hoop House near the school orchard for additional growing space through the winter months as well. Additionally, the school has cleared and tilled approximately 3000 square feet of space near our soccer field for additional growing space which is currently being protected by planted oats and a small sweet potato bed which we need to enhance for future production.

Our goal is to develop a School Garden To School Cafeteria program, entitled An Urban School Garden to School Cafeteria Program. Our plans and objectives for this program which align with the Implementation Track to improve access to local foods in eligible schools are to:

• Provide irrigation to existing tilled field and install a Greenhouse for food production;

• develop a STEM and agricultural program for students’ grades K-10th grade; and

• create an industrial station to manage fresh produce- preservation, preparation, storage and distribution.