Science Teacher, Parent Volunteer Spearhead Garden Revitalization Project
Science Teacher, Parent Volunteer Spearhead Garden Revitalization Project
The garden at Sage Hill School is getting a makeover -- and the whole community can help.
The area behind the Lisa Argyros and Family Science Center has been home for years to planters with various vegetables and flowers. There’s even a large chicken coop that houses egg-laying hens.
The original garden at Sage Hill was dedicated in 2011. In 2015, it was moved to its current location, a roughly 3,500-square-foot space. Over the years, it flourished under the care of various members of the school community, including groups of students and, most notably, the green thumb of former science teacher Lauren Fieberg.
Now, Dr. Todd Haney of the science department is managing the garden, with the considerable and earnest involvement of Sage Hill parent volunteer Dr. Jesus Valadez. Together, they are hoping for the garden to blossom into a nicer gathering space that the whole community can enjoy.
“We’ve always had a small group of students participate regularly in gardening and help with the planting or simply play with the chickens,” Dr. Haney said. “But it’s been about a year since it has benefitted from real attention. The garden looks as good as it does because of the efforts of some students as well has Kyle and Jose in Facilities. We would like to return the garden to its former productivity as well as make it more inviting to all.”
Dr. Valadez, who goes by Chuy to his family and friends, said he’s spent hours over the years waiting in the car for his son to get out of school. He said he decided to make that time more useful and get off the sidelines. He now spends a couple hours per week in the garden, working on restoring the planter boxes and fixing up the area in general.
“I think it’s cool that two doctors are running the garden,” said Dr. Valadez, who actually grew up on an apple farm in Mexico.
Some possible ideas for the garden space include solar lighting, outdoor games that draw students to the space, weather-durable labels for what’s growing in the planters, wind chimes and speakers to play relaxing music.
But the garden will serve practical and educational uses, as well. Dr. Haney and new science teacher David Pulitzer envision dedicating planter boxes for use in small experiments for classes such as AP Environmental Science and Biology. Dr. Haney noted that a significant upgrade will be the addition of aquaculture and hydroponics, endeavors that will create opportunities for even deeper ties to various courses from APES to Chemistry and Marine Science.
“Why should students be confined to the lab space, when they can take a few steps and study plant growth, or the development of other organisms, right here in the garden?” Dr. Haney said.
It will be up to the community to maintain the garden. Specific plans are not set in stone, but anyone who wants to help out can come to the garden on their own time and “dig in.” A checklist is posted on the garden’s pine tree so that one can select a task, big or small, and contribute a moment of their time.
“People can basically come up any time if they want to offer a little bit of their energy to the garden. They can check the clipboard, see what needs to be done and choose whatever fits their schedule,” Dr. Haney said. “Chuy and I agree that we would love to see all members of the community -- students, faculty, staff and parents -- getting their hands dirty.”
The tasks may include staining the wood of the planters, raking, pulling weeds or planting new crops of vegetables and flowers. All of the basic tools will be provided by the school, but volunteers are welcome to bring their own materials.
“We’re going to have probably five or six of these planters where if somebody really wants to come and put six snapdragons in and take care of them and they’re going to be watered, they can do that,” Dr. Valadez said. “As an example, I have some tulip bulbs from Holland that I’ll probably put in here.”
Dr. Valadez works in the garden after school drop-off from 8:00 to 9:00 AM on Tuesdays and before school gets out from 2:00 to 3:00 PM on Thursdays. He said he encourages fellow parents to join him at those times for some coffee and conversation while they work.
If you are interested in helping with the garden revitalization project, please feel free to email Dr. Haney or Dr. Valadez for more information.
Sage Hill School
Sage Hill School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. The School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship programs, and athletic and other School administered programs.