Donations from The Frisch Farm
Our programs help participants act on many mitzvot. For example, the majority of the weekly harvests from the Frisch Farm and BPY's Grammy's Torah Garden are donated to the Center for Food Action in Englewood, New Jersey.
SAR Academy's Rooftop Gan Ilan
Gan Ilan's layout is a giant magen david (star of David). The center hexagon is designed to reflect a beehive, as the SAR mascot is The Sting, and bees are integral to the health of our garden. The stunning view of the Hudson River and the Palisades Cliffs provide an inspiring setting for the students.
BPY's Grammy's Torah Garden
At Ben Porat Yosef, the family that sponsored the program requested that the garden be designed to look like a violin. The garden beds were designed as closely resembling a violin as possible while still maintaining ideal spacing for the garden beds, and student movement throughout the space.
Unique Solutions: SAR High School
Every GrowTorah garden design is a custom solution. At SAR High School's Gan Ilan, we installed support structures along a south-facing glass wall in their cafeteria. Along these cables, we hang growing pots of several sizes growing a range of herbs, lettuces, and vegetables.
Working with all abilities
At The Frisch Farm, we work with The Friendship Circle, co-hosting several events with participants of all abilities working together in the garden.
Havdallah gardens - Aromatic Herbs
At all of our gardens we grow aromatic herbs. In addition to providing wonderful smells, students learn the different brachot (blessings) for smelling, specifically, regarding havdallah. Pictured here is thyme growing at the Frisch Farm.
New Varieties
At each garden, we try to plant a wide variety of fruits and vegetables - both familiar and unfamiliar. The garden exposes participants to new types of vegetables, which can help make them comfortable eating more vegetables. Pictured here is a watermelon blossom at BPY's Grammy's Torah Garden.
The Power of Pollinators
Our gardens provide the perfect opportunity to educate about the importance of pollinators, without whom, many plants would not grow well. We teach about compassion for all creatures, and our Torah responsibilities towards them.
Lessons in Agricultural Charities
In conjunction with the weekly parshiyot, students explore the various agricultural charities mandated in the Torah. During the harvest season, students bundle up the produce and prepare it for donation to local charities such as the Center for Food Action.
Student Responsibility
The high school garden clubs at The Frisch School and at SAR (pictured here), are student run. Students have weekly responsibilities such as watering, pruning, and harvesting.