When teacher Roberto James gets excited and starts talking with gusto about new agriculture projects at John H. Woodson Junior High School, he has a knack for drawing people in and getting them excited.
“When I get excited, it gets the students excited,” James says. “I do things they like and are interested in – getting more out of them. Other students see the fun we have, and they want to get into the class.”
Friday, the eight students in his class were all smiles when he told them it was time to take home their own 2-foot by 2-foot “Healthy Habits” box garden projects. The boxes are only one of the many projects he has done with his students over the years.
The students taking his class half the year sowed the seeds in peat pots, then transplanted them to the boxes. The students mixed up a planting medium using their compost and vermiculite. They transplanted their choice of seedlings of cabbage, peppers, lettuce and other vegetables.
The colorfully painted boxes were overflowing with healthy looking, leafy green vegetables and herbs. The boxes were made from donated supplies, as are all the materials used in the projects – wood, plastic and a screen for drainage that James got through community supporters.
Born and raised in Frederiksted, James is a product of the V.I. public school system. He graduated from Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University in Tallahassee where he stated out studying law until he saw the college agriculture classes. That was something he would rather do, he decided. Besides, he added, there were plenty of lawyers on St. Croix.
“I have a sense of appreciation for what we have here,” James says. “I wanted to come back and give back to the community.”
James, who has been teaching the agriculture science class for 15 years, developed a nursery 10 years ago in which students grow produce from seedlings to the plate. In James’ class the students learn science, math, reading, logic, basic plumbing, electrical and carpentry skills.
Students taking his current elective class are cloning ornamental shrubs as a scientific branch of agriculture.
“We are actually doing and learning about cloning plants,” Makeim Felix says. “What Mr. James teaches is very interesting.”
James says the students learn marketing and business if they choose to sell what they produce. They also learn harvesting, distribution and food preservation.
He has the students doing maintenance and landscaping in the nursery area. The students work in the 50-foot by 100-foot schoolyard garden. The students won best youth garden plot at the Agricultural Fair last year.
James said the students prefer the box gardening to the large plot because the boxes are easier to work in with less bending for weeding and harvesting.
James is involved in many other activities when he isn’t tending the gardens and with students. He says being an educator affords him time to do other things.
He has done his duty for the past three years as the Crucian Christmas Festival Adult parade committee chairman. He said he was a sideliner and complained about the parade so he decided to participate and get involved. He says when the logistics are in place during the parade the only challenge he has is getting the parade to end at sundown.
“Challenges are an opportunity for me to do something new,” James says.
James says the students are his main drive and he loves his job.
He plans to start an Environmental Rangers Club for students at Woodson to work with senior citizens in their gardens. The students already donate vegetables to the Herbert Grigg Senior Citizens home.
“If we mold, shape, guide and direct students in certain ways we all win in the long run,” James says. Keeping kids busy and getting them interested and excited in positive things such as gardening will go a long way for the whole community, he added.
