What a wonderfully inspiring community event! The Southport Town Hall was packed with every variety of islander in support of the first ever Southport Central School’s homegrown feast. The initial lunch crowd trickled in for early grub but then the second wave of guests arrived ready to be served by school students and their band of merry Parent Teacher and community helpers. It was a food fest of unrivaled proportions.

The 21 students from Southport Central School got to see the fruits of their labors enjoyed by approximately 100 guests. Foods that had been planted, nurtured and harvested right on school grounds became part of delicious soups which included veggies of all variety. In the hall’s kitchen, fourth to sixth graders chopped and peeled and mixed foods grown in their own gardens. They prepared and shared. It was a true connection to the community that made their education possible. And it was an experience I suspect that provided a deep impression.

Garlic, carrots, squash and more flourished in gardens prepared with care in the spring and tended through the summer with the help of the staff at Southport General Store. Classes throughout the school year included a half day in the forest, guided by Boothbay Region Land Trust mentor Tracy Hall and a half day in the garden caring for the crops. Real hands-on experiences for students to learn and appreciate nature and their natural surroundings with the final goal of serving the community.

And the community rose to the occasion as well. The parent teacher organization, energized by local residents and parents of schoolchildren, Rachael Wallace and Christina Kurtz, connected the dots with motivating support. Bonita Johnson at Southport General Store helped students learn about food preparation with on location kitchen experiences during the school year in preparation for the big event and to help children realize more about the process of cooking. The general store staff also pitched in by providing examples of proper serving and personal interactions. Learning how to greet and interact with others not well known was an important part of this learning experience. The students served food and, with the help of school staff, set up the warm and inviting atmosphere which transformed the town hall.

A regular, daily morning meeting with students every day at school, by teachers, is intended to help children learn how to communicate intergenerationally with adults, a practice realized fully during the luncheon process.

Shawn Gallagher, the new head of school and co-teaching person of many talents, also shared a fun tidbit regarding desserts served at the luncheon. Islanders were asked to bake something connected to their family, a "flavor of place," he called it. Foods connected to the lives of local residents including pumpkin pie (six) cookies and “Wood pie," which consists of fruits and berries found nearby.

And the icing on my cake was the singing of the school song guided by school guidance counselor Mrs. Fowlie. A well-voiced rendition shared by all from the stage of the town hall where students didn’t hold back. It was heartwarming and significant, a real tribute to everyone who participated in an extraordinary experience for our community. Thank you one and all.