By James Reddick

Just a few years ago, Humboldt School’s future was in jeopardy. In the decade between 1997 and 2007, its enrollment declined by over 50 percent, more than three times the district average.  

It wasn’t until the Humboldt Gardens housing development was conceived that the city realized that the school was a critical component of the neighborhood.  John Keating, assistant director of the Housing Authority of Portland, said, “folks realized that, with the opening of Humboldt Gardens, it wasn’t a good time to shut down a school.” 

The housing complex, which opened on July 2nd, has 38 new residents who have enrolled at the school.  Looking to further the relationship between the two, planning for a “learning garden,” which will be shared between residents of the housing project and students of the school, has begun.  

A plot of unused land lying adjacent to Humboldt School will soon undergo construction that will make it a safe, and viable, community space.  This includes the removal, and replacement, of a rusty fence, which will require resources not yet available.   The Bureau of Environmental Services has committed to providing over $18,000.  Nike, the Lower Columbia River Estuary and the Housing Authority of Portland have committed to providing funding, but the school is, as Jamila Williams, Principal of Humboldt School says, “open to any contributions.”  

The idea behind the garden is  that students will have the opportunity to grow fruits and vegetables as a part of their science curriculum, and during the summer months residents of Humboldt Gardens will have access to the land, free of charge.  Park Terrace an ‘affordable’ non-profit apartment complex up the street at 315 North Alberta Street may also become involved in the partnership as well. Micaila Boesche, a 7th and 8th grade science teacher at Humboldt, said, “It’ll give them hands on opportunity to learn about the environment, and to learn how to work together with people of different age groups.”  

There is a precedent for “learning gardens” in Portland, said Williams.  At Woodlawn and Vernon school, for example, students have access to a garden space that is provided by the Portland Parks and Recreation.  What will separate the Humboldt Garden, which they hope to open in the spring of next year, from those already in existence, is that its usage will be entirely free.  

With Humboldt having been on the brink of closure last year, the garden will serve as an emblem of the school’s attempt at revival. Gov. Ted Kulongoski has designated improvement of Humboldt School as an Oregon Solutions Project, meaning that the state will assist in networking the school with partners who can contribute to its success.  

In contrast with the uncertainty of recent years, optimism at Humboldt prevails these days.  “The garden,” said Boesche, “will hopefully be one of the things that keeps us going.” 

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