The summer heat has brought a bounty of fresh basil and mint to our greenhouse, and our STEP Crew has been putting that harvest to good use while building valuable vocational and independent living skills! After shopping for ingredients at Costco, students got right to work harvesting, washing, rinsing, and drying the herbs. They practiced teamwork and attention to detail as they carefully separated leaves from stems, while also strengthening skills such as following multi-step directions, reading recipes, measuring and weighing ingredients, kitchen safety, and using equipment like a food processor.

On Tuesday, the crew made basil salt and rosemary salt, and on Thursday, they created peppermint sugar. Activities like these give our students hands-on opportunities to practice skills they can carry into future employment, community experiences, and everyday life—all while creating something they can be proud of. Thank you Sarah Shull, our gardening extraordinaire! We could not do this without your guidance and expertise!
We can’t wait to see what they make next!