Any of you running an agriculture program at your school with a functioning garden?

I am a high school science teacher for a small public school in Oregon (not rural). My bosses have been wanting to find a science teacher who is willing to revive their dead garden space and teach agriculture courses. I rolled up my sleeves and went to work as soon as I could. I am a fourth year teacher. This year, we finally could start planting some simple vegetables but nothing major or fancy. The school maintenance supervisor complained to my bosses that he does not want his staff to take care of the garden during summer time. I already made it clear to everyone that I have plans to have the garden taken care of, and it does not involve requiring any of the maintenance staff to tend the garden. I am working on getting automatic watering and ventilation systems installed, and I personally plan on frequenting school grounds during summer time to tend after the garden. I live close by. I told the maintenance team that I will not enter the buildings while I tend the garden (entering the building was their big no-no). He then came up with a different excuse by saying I am not allowed to be anywhere on the campus at all. This is ironic because the main school building is open throughout the summer with our clerical team, both of my bosses, and dean of the school going to work 12 months a year AND the garden area is next to that building. He claimed I should just plant in the spring and then plant again in the fall. It’s almost like he forgot that PNW’s growing season is very short. We aren’t in southern states where people can grow plenty of things through winter. My bosses are very happy that I took the incentive but the maintenance supervisor keep on finding ways to block the agriculture program from taking off by giving me new reasons each time I find solutions to their previous concerns. I already spoke with school dean about it. She said she will investigate next week (her schedule for this week is full). Did any of you have issues with maintaining the garden at school because someone up in the administration, like my maintenance supervisor, blocking you? What were your solutions? Note: I do not get a pay raise to tend after the gardens. I negotiated trade off and I am very happy about it. Don’t worry about my labor being exploited. submitted by /u/WildWandering95 [link] [comments]