DeLong Middle School is spicing things up. The Eau Claire school has a vegetable and herb garden, and they recently decided to double its size with help from Arts@Large, an organization that provides art programming and advocacy in public schools throughout the state. Science teacher Michelle Brettingen said the garden fit into their philosophy of health awareness, as kids learn to grown their own tomatoes, potatoes, corn, squash, beans, and many other vegetables. Brettingen said it’s important for kids to know where their food comes from, and growing a garden is all about controlling variables. “The students love it. Often times they try to come out to the garden during study hall.” Once the plants produce, students will often take them down to the local food pantry. And science classes aren’t the only ones digging in. “Art classes design a lot of the pickets and dragonflies decorating the garden; many students are eager to dig and plant seeds and others just sign up for certain jobs throughout the spring season,” Brettingen said. According to Brettingen, the students “come alive” when they are out there working on it.