Disney VoluntEARS Build Garden At Juliette Low Elementary

ANAHEIM, CA — Forget the April showers, it was all May flowers at Anaheim's Juliette Low Elementary School. On Friday, May 5, Disneyland Resort's VoluntEARs gathered to build a teaching garden for students of that school, to teach on healthy living, a spokesperson said.

"They built garden boxes, transported soil, and planted vegetable seedlings with the students of Juliette Low," a Disneyland Resort spokesperson said.

The garden will be used to teach students about healthful living for years to come, they said.

At the event, the voluntEARS hosted activity and storytelling stations, helped students paint garden rocks, stakes, trash cans and more.

According to the principal of Juliette Low Elementary School, the Teaching Garden began with a connection with the American heart Association and led to an introduction with Diane Killeen, manager of corporate citizenship from Disney. The school learned they would be granted the teaching garden in the fall of 2016.

"I am so appreciative of all the support from AMA VoluntEARS for making this a reality," Juliette Low's Principal Debra VonSprecken said regarding the awaited project.

The Teaching Garden at Juliette Low Elementary School was made possible by the Disneyland Resort. This is the second Teaching Garden funded by the Resort. The first was at Walt Disney Elementary in Anaheim.

According to VonSprecken, the garden magic started early in the day on Friday.

"The VoluntEARS arrived at 6:15 a.m. They bustled around, getting all of their equipment out and ready to go for the experience, working non-stop until after the closing ceremony at the end of the day," she said.

Students, aged pre-school through 6th grade both watched and helped the Disney VoluntEARS at work.

"There were over 30 people working hand in hand with the students, helping them build the boxes, paint rocks and even form a soil brigade of getting soil into the boxes," she said.

The voluntEARS planted one on one with students, and helped inexperienced gardeners learn how to properly touch the plants, according to the Juliette Low Elementary School principal.

"They learned how to loosen roots and put them into the ground, many students have never even touched a plant like that," she said. They were patient, kind and joyous, it was a delightful experience. They are excellent role models for our kids."

For the younger students, VoluntEARS read stories from two rocking chairs set under a big tree.

"They read stories about gardening to the students, it was very sweet," she said. "The kids loved it."

Now that the Teaching Garden has been handed off to the school, the Garden committee will meet regularly to make sure the garden is cared for according to VonSprecken.

"The garden champion will see that students have time to work in the garden and care for the boxes, and that the garden is cared for over the summer," she said.

Thanks to the American Heart Association, curriculum will be used to teach everything from planting to cooking healthy foods from the harvest. According to VonSprecken, "It will continue to be a living classroom for our children to learn about science, harvesting, the joy and responsibility of gardening."

Disney VoluntEARS photos