Schools
Las Juntas School Garden - Angels in Action Mode
It took an involved community of parents, administrators, teachers and health activists to get the Las Juntas Elementary School Garden to grow.
For a small neighborhood elementary school, has a whole lot of soul, and a couple of angels.
Community is a priority to the parents, administration and staff at Las Juntas, so when they were approached about setting up a school garden program on the site, there was no hesitation.
Their garden angel – Gordon Piper from The Oakland Landscape Committee – stepped up and made it happen. Health activist Cindy Gershen steered Piper to the project and when approached about a garden, Principal Aaron Tarzian gave his full support, working with the PTA and parents to get organized.
Piper helped orchestrate generous financial donations from Shell Refinery and , while the school and local community came forth with amazing in-kind works. Local eco-business owner Heather Hamilton from West Coast Chip Harvesters – a Las Juntas PTA mom and the other angel – knows a lot of people. She is relentless in spreading the word about needed support for the garden program.
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As a result, Trey Farmer from Living Laboratories in Berkeley now works side by side with the school in planting and garden education. And local business Vince's Landscaping is installing irrigation, while Hamilton convinced her neighbors, Contra Costa Topsoil, to donate soil for all 50 garden boxes built by school and community volunteers last summer.
Hamilton and her school community have a vision for the fortunate students at Las Juntas; starting seedlings from seeds, watching them grow, incorporating science and curriculum all the way. Harvesting, preparing and eating food that they have grown is icing on the proverbial carrot cake. Intentions are to get that knowledge all the way down the line from students to their home. Studies show that when students grow their vegetables and fruits, they are 90 percent more likely to choose them over junk food and candy.
As part of the vision, Piper and Hamilton want to redo the small deserted house that sits at the edge of Las Juntas and create a learning center for all district students to share while unlocking the mysteries of agriculture. Building the center would enhance the Pacheco Boulevard entrance to Martinez and beautify the face of Las Juntas.
They envision a monthly community farmers market at the center, benefitting district cafeterias and local families alike. Thus are the dreams of angels.
