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11/22/2016 01:00 PMThe farm at John Winthrop Middle School now has a new permanent structure thanks to an Eagle Scout project by former student David Prendergast. The farm was started when Prendergast was in 7th grade at the school, and being involved in the project left an impression on him. Now a sophomore at Valley Regional High School, Prendergast built a blue and white storage shed so that the program could continue to expand.
“I had a teacher who really encouraged me and got me involved in a lot of really good programs. The farm was a really fun experience in middle school. I liked learning how to grow food and about plants I didn’t know about,” said Prendergast. “I knew the greenhouse was full of stuff, so I wanted to do this.”
The middle school had a greenhouse donated about eight years ago, but the farm didn’t begin in earnest until about four years ago, thanks to the efforts of two teachers, John Woitovich and Mark Gostekewicz.
“We’re both very into organic produce and grow our own food,” said Woitovich. “We wanted to bring that experience to students, here, and fill a gap, give them a little more exposure they might not be aware of otherwise.”
In addition to the greenhouse that will now be used for its original purpose, the farm has added an orchard as of about two years ago. The trees should be big enough to start harvesting fruit in a couple of years.
“It’s not only the process of growing the food, it’s the fun of cooking and eating it, too. We grow vegetables that sometimes students have never tried before, like kale,” Woitovich said. “We try simple recipes together and then make copies for the kids to take home.”
“It is also a chance at adding some career exploration to the student experience here,” said Principal Bill Duffy. “They get exposed to farming, organics, and cooking.
“We’re so satisfied that a former student thought enough of us, our teachers, and our farm program to give back to our school,” continued Duffy.
Prendergast, a member of Scout Troop 12, approached the school about the project, and completed it with the assistance of several mentors who had the technical knowledge to help him to construct the shed. His mentors included his father and scoutmaster Mark Prendergast, John Bogaert of Bogaert Construction, and Pete Leffingwell of New England Joinery Works. Both Leffingwell and Bogaert are graduates of Valley.
“Mr. Bogaert taught us how to build trusses and build the various components,” said David Prendergast. “And he showed us how do to things quickly, but also do them the right way. Mr. Leffingwell provided a lot of materials for the doors and the trimboard, which also helped to cut the price. He showed us how to hang doors properly, and even donated the two windows.”
Asked why he felt driven to complete an Eagle Scout Service Project, which is a significant time commitment, Prendergast said, “It is an honor to have it. It’s a lot of hard work, and it shows how dedicated someone is to finishing something they start.
“It was a lot of work,” continued Prendergast. “There were a lot of ups and downs. It took over a year.”
Prendergast and his father signed the paperwork to begin the project in October 2015.
“It was a very big project,” said Mark Predergast. “We knew it going into it, but not just how big it was. We were lucky to have the mentors on board that we did.”
The original plan had to be adjusted as it moved from conception to reality.
“Originally the door was on a short wall, but it was moved so that people could get in and out of the shed without leaving the farm area,” said Mark Prendergast. “The windows were moved to the short walls because, based on the size, that was where they worked better.”
“It was really nice to see him organizing and managing the whole thing,” continued Mark Prendergast. David “does track, is an honor roll student, does national youth leadership training—he has a very busy schedule. But I knew it was a matter of sticking with it. I’m very proud.”
David Prendergast said that the experience changed him, and made him realize that hard work is really appreciated and recognized by other people.
There were many lessons learned along the way, but there were two that stuck most with the scout: “Don’t give up because everything pays out, and do it today, or it won’t get done for a week.”