Abby, 17, and Tyler, 15, are spending the summer getting their hands dirty at NHCO's community garden in Bellevue, where they help grow fresh produce that feeds our food pantries. They’re also developing valuable skills for their future as engineers.

Abby will be studying chemical engineering this fall at The University of Minnesota. “Each plant needs different requirements of nutrients…so chemistry is part of it,” she said. “Finding the right ratio of nitrogen and phosphorus."

Tyler was placing a tarp over weeds to keep water away, while positioning it to flow rainwater toward the crops. He ran out of fastening pins, so he used rocks to secure the tarp. “A lot of problem-solving. Figuring out the best way to complete a task,” Tyler added.

Critical thinking combined with resource management gives NHCO’s future engineers a hands-on experience that goes beyond the garden.

Learn more about our garden at NHCO.org/garden.