Jacob Steidinger of Boy Scout Troop 80 recently asked the Northwestern Lehigh School Board if he could build raised gardens near the pavilion behind Northwestern Elementary for his Eagle Scout project.

There is an open space with abundant sunlight available for the garden, he explained.

Steidinger said the raised beds would be a real laboratory, provide lessons on nutrition and teach about gardens.

Teachers could use it to show students how to keep records and integrate into math lessons.

The raised beds would be made of wood or block, and will help deter weeds.

When nothing is growing, the garden area would be covered and have no maintenance needs.

District Superintendent Mary Anne Wright said he had shown how the garden would connect to the curriculum and it would not become a maintenance problem.

She recommended acceptance.

Board member Joe Reiter said the gardens might interest people in planting home gardens and buying local.

"It's a growing-greener mentality," Reiter said.

"We all benefit from this type of project," said board member Paul Fisher.

Board member Willard Dellicker said they could make chow chow with the vegetables.

Lynn Township resident Ray Nemeth said he liked the project enough he offered to help fund it.