Linda A. McHugh

The "Not-So-Secret Garden State Garden" is a handicapped-accessible garden project designed to create a learning experience for students aged 16-21 with significant cognitive/physical impairments. Reinforcing core curriculum content standards learned in the classroom such as math, science, language arts, social studies and health, McHugh's project will provide special education students with hands-on skills needed to experience the joys of working in the garden. Students partner with teens from 4-H clubs and volunteers from Rutgers University Master Gardener program to grow organic vegetables, native wildflowers and herbal tea for sale through the Gloucester County Seeds to Success Youth Farmstead Program. Profits and unsold produce will be donated to a local food pantry. McHugh is a resident of Pitman.