3rd Place Organic Bronze Award
Rancho Encinitas Academy
Encinitas, California

History & Introduction
The K/1 class at Rancho Encinitas Academy wanted to develop its own garden in an area in front of their room that until a year ago was literally just a patch of dirt. Teacher Alison Frank approached parent Deb Lawrence who got the ball rolling. In less than 6 months, the plot of dirt was transformed into a lovely, welcoming garden.

Garden Features
Organic soil amendment was added to prepare the clay-based dirt for planting. The garden features many fresh herbs including lavender, basil, oregano, thyme, Italian parsley, and chives. Perennial plants and bushes, many with colorful flowers, attract butterflies and hummingbirds. A host of seasonal vegetables were planted (crops to vary based on season), which currently include broccoli, cold-weather tomato, two varieties of lettuce, and radicchio, along with two citrus trees. A small stone birdbath acts as a centerpiece and attracts local birds.

Students’ Involvement in the Garden
The garden features personal touches made by and/or for the children — a stepping stone path made with the children’s foot imprints and decorated by them, birdhouses painted by the children, and two benches painted "schoolhouse red" for students to relax on together in the garden area.

As the year progresses, the class will have special projects related to the garden, from general maintenance (watering, weeding, harvesting, etc.) to making wind chimes to hang in the area. The "new-ness" of the garden allows for many opportunities for the children to add to it.

Garden Maintenance
The garden is watered primarily by soaker hoses with additional daily help from the children, as some plants are in pots.

The class has started a compost bin and children add appropriate items left from lunches and from home to it. Until the compost is ready, organic fertilizers are used in addition to organic pest control, as needed.

Students and parents work together to maintain the garden on an ongoing basis. Maintenance is continuous during holidays and school breaks as families volunteer their time.

Use of the Garden’s Produce
As the current garden crop comes to maturity, the class will host a special spaghetti lunch with sauce to be made from the tomatoes and fresh herbs from the garden. A fresh salad also will be courtesy of the garden. When the lemon trees fruit, the class will make fresh lemonade.

Educational Use of the Garden
Miss Alison has incorporated many aspects of the garden into daily lessons for the students, including sessions on composting (and how that differs from recycling, which the class also does), how plants grow, and organic gardening concepts. A visit from a local nursery employee is in the works. The focus of the visit will be organic gardening and the discussion will be tied directly to the children’s garden.

Social Aspect of the Garden
Students, teachers, and parents alike all agree — this new garden makes for a more pleasant environment. It’s a soothing, picturesque place to come to every day and contributes to a peaceful, happy classroom. The enhanced atmosphere also contributes positively to the overall learning atmosphere for the students and teachers. In essence, the garden acts as a "gathering place" for students to talk, walk, discover, and simply enjoy the view.