Small Steps Towards a School Garden at Arroyo High School

Go Green AHS has been taking small steps towards making our dream come true of re-establishing an existing school garden. We asked ourselves "Why build a school garden?" Our response was "School gardens can provide students with the opportunity to better understand their relationship with nature, create a dynamic environment for understanding environmental core subjects, and promotes cooperation through group activities.

Our goals and timeline:

March
- Go Green AHS will be established as an official school club
- Outreaching to other school clubs, teachers, and students
- Host a clean-up day event
- Attend two Earthworks Farm training workshops
- Outreach during during this years Open House event
- Initiate our fundraising strategy for 2015/2016 school year

April
- Submit our request form to present during the El Monte Unified High School District board meeting on May 6th
- Launch our 1st fundraising event
- Building garden boxes, repair garden fence, and relocate tool shed
- Plant the following: basil, beans, beets, carrots, chives, cilantro, corn, cucumber, dill, eggplant, green bunching onions, lettuce, onions, parsley, parsnip, peas, peppers, radish, spinach, strawberries, squash, sunflower, swiss chard, tomatoes, and thyme.

May
- Present our project to the El Monte Unified High School District Board Board on May 6
- Plant the following: melons, all squash, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, green and yellow beans, dried beans, and corn.
- Launch our 2nd fundraising event

June
- Launch our 3rd fundraising event
- Enjoy gardening
- Create a summer schedule for students, teachers, and community organizations

Things to consider as we move forward:

Water: Need to decide whether using a water hose or establishing an irrigation system.

Herbicides and Pesticides: Need to avoid areas that have been sprayed with herbicides and pesticides.

Access: Who will have access (students, teachers, and school staff)? How will we protect our garden from vandalism or theft?

Safety: Safety will need to be understood from everyone who will be pat of the school garden.

If your ready to be part of a school garden revolution:

You should be open to volunteer during school hours, after school, and some weekdays. Be open to learn and attend one or two gardening and gardening safety training sessions. Be open to learn not just gardening; but writing donation letters for local businesses; and be willing to pick up donated materials.

*We hope the garden will be open to the El Monte community sometime in 2016*