Darius White, School Chef at the Akwesasne Mohawk School in Cornwall, Ontario, is enthusiastic about his school’s 2445 Organics grow racks. He said with just eight trays in production, he is able to provide a week’s worth of greens for 360 students. “The flavor is amazing,” he said, and the health benefits of the raw, nutrient-rich ingredients are important for students and the greater community. He sees this kind of gardening as a powerful tool to engage kids in producing, preparing and consuming fresh vegetables while simultaneously addressing health-related issues like poor nutrition, depression and even alcoholism. “The kids are really drawn into it,” he said. “Even shy kids let their guard down and get involved.

Adirondack North Country Association

The WCSO grow room is now in its 3rd month. The inmates are growing nutrient dense organic produce, in primitive soil year round with their own two hands, which helps them to develop new skills and personal growth.

Worcester County Sheriff's Office

The hands on experience that we have had with the entire EvanLEE Organics team has been amazing. Their dedication and pride in what they do is obvious at every step. Bringing students into the planning stages of their very own classroom garden is a memory that will last them forever. Observing EvanLEE Organics employees work side by side and step by step encouraging students to get their hands dirty is a teachers' dream come true. During visits to schools over the past several weeks students eagerly update me on their garden status bringing such joy to all of us. I am looking forward to the day where all of our schools have the opportunity to bring EvanLEE Organics to the classroom.

April M. Laskey, SNS
Director of School Nutrition, Billerica Public Schools

All I can say is..."WOW!" Waltham Public Schools is so excited to be working with EvanLEE Organics.We are now proud owners of these unbelievable grow racks that have been easy to care for and produced remarkable amounts of produce for our school district. It’s not often that the students, faculty and administration can all come together and be involved with a project like this. From the planning and planting to the harvesting and distribution. It’s been incredible to watch the teamwork and dedication of our schools and the team at EvanLEE We structured our programming in Waltham to focus on three major priorities to include: fresh produce for our school meal program, classroom learning and fundraising opportunities. This has been a successful model for us thus far. Each day we continue to develop our process and growing system plan of action. I see our districts utilizing many more racks in the near future. We love our Grow Racks!

April Liles, RD, SNS
Food Service Director, Waltham Public Schools

I want to say thank you for letting us become a part of this wonderful foundation. I am so honored to be a part of something that keeps giving back over and over again. EvanLEE Organics and your grow garden has amazed me every single day!! We planted one day and 7 days later we had VEGETABLES!!! I swear there was one day I came in and it looked like it needed a little water so I watered and then, I swear, a half hour later something sprouted. This system is unbelievable! We had enough greens to make an awesome salad for a staff lunch of 12 and then fed salad to 25 seniors at our daily lunch just with ONE harvest. I also want to say thanks for the awesome support. You guys have been there every step of the way. Thank God for smartphones. All the phone calls, visits, texting and sending pictures has made this experience so easy for someone who has very little gardening experience. Thank you so much! I love coming to work every day and walk into my office to a tower of healthy veggies!!

Lori Copes, Program Coordinator
Larson Senior Center

It is not what you do to ingredients that makes you a great chef, it is what you don't do to ingredients that make you a great chef. Start with the best quality in addition to color, flavor, and texture.

The ease of preparation, on site support and quality of ingredients have made EvanLEE grow racks in integral component to our CTE curriculum this past Spring. We were very excited with being the first CTE school in New England to have them in place.

Having our students and staff involved in an organic, sustainable, "seed to salad" food cycle empowers all those involved to become proactive relative to the food they come into contact with.

The last 6 months have been an incredible learning/growth experience for myself and my students, with all of us looking forward to a bountiful start to the upcoming school year.

Steven Kantrowitz, Culinary Arts
Holyoke High School, Dean Campus

The Grow Unit was a great addition to our school. It was discussed at our Faculty Meetings, featured during one of our Parent Advisory Council evenings, and utilized by several of our health and science classes. However, it had the strongest impact in an area we did not initially anticipate. A small group of special education students, with social-emotional disabilities, managed the Grow Unit with a few staff. It was an incredible sense of pride for them that went well beyond the classroom walls. Besides managing the general up keep (planting, watering, harvesting, etc), these awesome students provided tours, taught other students about the Grow Unit, and even made salad for staff after one of the harvests. One student even started a garden with his father at home based on what he learned in school. Most importantly, it gave these students self-confidence, gratification, and joy in learning.

Principal William Hahn
Eleanor N Johnson Middle School