On the second floor of the school, just next to the down escalator, is next week’s school lunch. Several weeks ago, the Environmental Justice Club (EJC) planted vegetables in a 6 foot tall grow tower. Since then, the club has harvested lettuce, bok choy and basil from the tower and supplied them to the cafeteria for school lunches.

“We basically wanted it because our school was definitely not the most green space,” Chenoa Hunt ‘23, co-advisor of the EJC said. “Since we don’t have windows, it’s really hard to get the outdoors inside. So this was like a way to combat that and just make it a little greener in the school. And it’s really fun because now we can use what we produce from the grow tower in our cafeteria.” 

In the eyes of Tessa Napolitano ‘25, the plants and the grow tower are a success.

“They look really good, and I think they add vibrance to the school,” Napolitano said.

In addition to the vertical planter, the EJC has completed several projects this year. These include establishing a thrift closet where students can donate and take clothes, planting trees across Burlington, painting murals and picking up trash. 

“I think our main goal is to make an impact, no matter how big the impact is,” co-advisor of the EJC Lanxi Lin 23’ said. “Even if it’s just a small change, we want to do something for the environment.” 

With the progression of climate change, August Bauer 26’ thinks the club is invaluable.

“Climate change is a real issue,” Bauer said. “ Having an environmental club will definitely be helpful to raise a new generation of kids that understand that.”

Though the school year is coming to an end, the club still has plans for this spring.

“Now that spring is coming along, we really want to do some projects outdoors,” Hunt said. “Maybe starting a project with alternative transportation.”