If you’ve walked past the first-floor windows at West Haven High School lately, you may have noticed something new taking root — and it’s all thanks to the WHHS Gardening Club. Led by Gabe Martinez — known to most students as Mr. Martinez — this hands-on club is blooming with activity, offering students the chance to dig into nature, sustainability, and even a bit of carpentry.
The Gardening Club was established in 2021 by Mr. Martinez and former teacher Mike Klink. Since then, it has flourished into a space where students get their hands dirty — quite literally — while learning about soils, plants, trees, pruning, sunlight, and all the work that goes into making a garden thrive.
This year, the club has been hard at work planting different native fruit trees, providing future shade and creating new outdoor study areas. Mr. Martinez shared that the next big project includes installing new garden beds under the first-floor windows, so students can enjoy the greenery as they walk from the cafeteria to the gym.
But the Gardening Club isn’t just about planting pretty flowers. “Students learn how hard it is to actually grow food for eating and how much labor goes into it,” said Mr. Martinez. “They learn different soil dynamics and plant needs for the best growth and most sustainable garden practices.”
One of the club’s secrets to success? “For example, students learn how using wood chips can keep weeds away and retain the maximum amount of water in the soil, especially in the dry summer season,” Mr. Martinez explained. Members also pick up basic carpentry skills, learning how to build garden beds and apply math for the most efficient planting layouts.
The club runs from August to Thanksgiving, then resumes from April to the end of the school year — making the most of the growing season. Students interested in joining can sign up through Google Classroom or follow the club on Instagram @whhsgardening.
If you’re looking for a club that’s down-to-earth, literally, and teaches valuable life skills, the WHHS Gardening Club is the place to be.
