Near West

When it comes time to plant new peas at the Lapham Elementary School garden this year, there might not be anyone there to do it.

Jim Hansen, who for five years has coordinated the garden and introduced hundreds of students to the soil, plants and critters, might not be able to continue working at Lapham if his position is defunded.

Like most school garden initiatives, Hansen’s position is tenuous, dependent on funding from parent groups and grants.

“Trying to run any kind of project on soft money, I think, is really dicey,” he said.