Arlene Hein Elementary Schools' Garden of Abundance

Welcome To Our Garden

Background - On May 9, 2013, Arlene Hein students, staff and parents, Hein alumnus, Home Dept representatives and Boy Scout Jason Li commemorated the expansion of the garden.

Jason Li raised funds for the 12 redwood planter boxes and built the garden with help from his Boy Scout Troop. This was Jason Li's Eagle Scout project in 2012. In 2013 Home Depot partnered with Hein and donated small citrus trees, organic fertilizer, marigold flowers (to keep the bugs away from the tomato plants), the redwood pergola, fruit and vegetable seedlings and gardening tools. What a great partner!

In August 2013, the school had donated 25 lbs of veggies to the Elk Grove Food Bank! The garden has been a wonderful hands-on learning experience for the students and staff as well. Mrs. Fennell's 6th Grade class even wrote about their observations. And, in February 2014, Goldy Shergill dropped off more veggies! Ms. Shergill had this to say, "We have donated over 80 lbs. of fresh vegetables and herbs since we started the garden in the Spring of 2013. It could not have been possible without Kristin Thompson Mullard, Judy Mead-Silaj, Christine Baeta and Student Leaders at Hein Elementary!" 

Kindergarten teachers Kristin Mullard and Judy Meade are ardent supporters of the garden. Here are more pictures from the garden, courtesy of Ms. Mullard.

View of the garden's raised beds

Tomatoes

Gorgeous sunflower

Time to plant the lettuce

Check out those seedlings they grew!

This month we (my grandson Jayce and I) were given a tour of the garden at the end of the winter growing season.  The plants were well attended, and the school is looking forward to the next upgrade - drip irrigation. This will really help with water conservation and watering over the summer.

Here are some pics from that day:

An artichoke - it's not as big as it looks.

Beets

Cauliflower

An Herb?

My grandson and I really enjoyed and appreciated the time that Mrs. Mullard and Mrs. Meade spent showing us around the garden.  We even got to take home a radish and a cauliflower. Yummy!

Does your elementary school have a garden? Do you share your veggies with the Elk Grove Food Bank? Comment and add your pictures here!