Spring Garden 2010

Thanks to everyone who has helped making this spring a success- WJUSD maintenance, Cece, Debbie and Miki deserve extra thanks for going above and beyond. If you see them watering or pulling weeds make sure to share your appreciation.

"El Sapo" - A Thief

Last week, this man was seen near Brenda's garden, pocket-knife in hand. He was just reaching in to cut off a zucchini when his picture was taken by another gardener. Known only as "El Sapo" other gardeners say they have seen around before. Be on the lookout.

Sunflowers, Purple Beans and Patty-Pan Squash

It has been fun to go and pull a weed and find squash or beans hiding underneath leaves! My Romas should be ready in a couple of weeks.

Student Gardener

Teresa proudly shows off her first zuchinni. She has been helping one the teachers with her garden as well.

How does your Garden Grow?

Gardens are growing (and so are the weeds). It is impressive to see how quickly everything is growing. So far, the only problems we have had are some aphids and lots of weeds (Bermuda Grass and various "Volunteers" ) . Looks like we'll have tomatoes in another month or so!

First Fruits

I was at the garden Friday night along with Maria Lourdes and her family. They shared with me the "first fruits" of harvest, some beautiful radishes that they had grown in their plot. Although I think a few others have harvested some lettuce and maybe some strawberries it was exciting to start to see the garden producing and the gardeners' hard work paying off.

Garden Roots- Our Beginnings

I would drive around town, see vacant weedy lots or lawns filling up yards and the burden was put on my heart--- why aren't there any gardens? I would get a magazine in the mail and read about backyard gardens and one man's quest to feed others and help them feed themselves and think to myself, "I'm going to talk to the neighbors. They need gardens!" I would see the ripe citrus fruit hanging from the trees and wonder, "Why aren't people picking their fruit?" So, I went door-to door and asked if I could pick their fruit and donate for them. These ideas lay heavy on my heart and mind and I was driving my husband crazy with my "garden" obsession and sucking my children into it. My shift my focus onto my class--why can't they have a garden? what about the people that live in apartments? condos? I called my friend at the Food Bank and asked her about community gardens. She replied that they were trying to start a garden at the Food Bank but had had no luck so far securing the plot of land. However, they did have an on-line survey about community gardens and would my students be interested in filling it out. Sure- why not.So, I stuffed the teacher's mailboxes, went class to class promoting the ono-line survey and the idea of "IF we had a garden, would you be interested?' When? Where? they wanted to know....I couldn't answer them. It was February and it was just a small seed of an idea. After meeting with the head of the Food Bank and finding out that they were still working on getting a piece of land, that it wouldn't start until summer I thought, well it's better than nothing.The next step was to talk with the principal about getting the students connected with the Food Bank and the upcoming garden. She thought that was fine, no problem. But over the weekend, something amazing happened. She and her husband talked about gardens. Monday morning when I came in she said, "We have to talk...about the garden..don't worry." Her idea was "Let's start one here, in front of the classes.We can tear out the LAWN. If it doesn't work out, we'll just put it back." So for about a week we planned, scouted for hoses and a water source, priced fencing material and compiled a list of interested students and staff members. We planned Saturday for our ground-breaking. A day of heavy labor- shoveling out the lawn and hauling it away wheelbarrow by wheelbarrow full. The Friday before, around 11:00 a.m. the principal appeared in the door of my class along with 5 maintenacne guys. "Come on", they said. "We've got a new location for the garden." My mouth said "OK" and my mind was thinking, "What? We're breaking ground tomorrow!"
To Be Continued