Hazel Brooks, 16. I run our school garden, started a cafeteria composting program, and sketch every tomato like it's a portrait. Dirt under my nails, plans in my pocket.
Everything started with one raised bed in 9th grade. Here's what it turned into.
Captain of the garden crew. We grow 2,000+ lbs a year — salad bar + food shelf donations.
Got compost bins in the cafeteria. 4 tons diverted, zero smell complaints (a miracle).
150+ watercolor pages of plants & bugs. Sold prints at the craft fair for garden funds.
Free seeds in the school library. 800 packets borrowed last spring. Take some, leave some.
Tested 30 soil samples across town. 2nd place regionals — dirt is data!
9th-grade me killed a cactus. 11th-grade me runs 12 garden beds and a compost route. What changed? Somebody handed me a trowel and didn't laugh when I asked if worms have feelings. (They do. Probably.)
Seed-starting party, 2,000 seedlings, muddy boots guaranteed.
Watering rota, farmers-market stall, sunflowers taller than me.
2,000 lbs weighed, food-shelf runs, harvest dinner for 80.
Seed catalogs, sketchbook, grant applications by the fire.
"Hazel turned a weed patch into the school's favorite classroom. Kids eat kale now. KALE."
"Her compost pitch to the school board was better than most adult presentations I've seen."
"I joined for service hours. I stayed because Hazel makes weeding feel like a party."
Every dollar goes to seeds, tools and the food-shelf fund. Come say hi Saturdays!
9am–12pm · behind the science wing · drop-ins welcome
✓ Apr 11th at 9:30 selected — seed-starting party day!
📸 @hazel.grows · 📧 hazel.brooks.school@email.com · 📍 Burlington, VT