Earlier this week Quabbin Regional High School students created an herb spiral outside the school’s greenhouse with training from Kelly Wheeler, EQLT’s Americorps Service Learning Coordinator. The students are part of Mrs. Bottomley’s greenhouse class. The lesson started with an explanation of permaculture, which is the conscious design of “cultivated” ecosystems that have the diversity, stability and resilience of natural ecosystems. An herb spiral is often constructed from rocks and creates more vertical space and varied micro-climates to grow a variety of herbs in a small space. Those that like cooler, moister growing conditions would be on the north side and herbs preferring warmer, drier conditions are planted on the south side. The herb spiral will be planted in the spring when warmer weather arrives!
