In 2012, Delta Elementary Charter School (DECS) teachers and the Administration in Clarksburg decided to write a grant to use the money to create a learning garden dedicated to a past principal, Don Fenocchio. With great delight, they received the grant money and successfully created a beautiful community/school learning garden. It was a great success for the first few years. All the funds for the grant were used.
As with all schools, teachers and students come and go, and with the passage of time and the pandemic, those in charge of the garden left, and those interested in maintaining the lovely garden went with them.
Fast forward to 2023, when Kathy Brown, UCCE Master Gardener-Yolo, came to town. With her daughter and her family moving to ‘The Burg,' Kathy was able to familiarize herself with the area.
When she first saw the garden, the once beautiful raised beds were growing only an abundance of Bermudagrass, as was the rest of the area. Areas were filled with trash meant for removal but never removed, and all the original drip and irrigation systems were inoperable.
She went to work. With the help of her family, friends, the local garden club, and farmers and their crews in the area, they spruced up the old garden. Kathy is a force of Nature!
Then, Kathy started working with the DECS teachers and administration and, in May, held a student learning day. Each class came to the garden and planted seeds in the raised beds. The Clarksburg Garden Club and fellow Master Gardener Jalena Rusaw aided her. The event was a huge success.
After the event, we discussed the possibility of creating a junior garden club during the school year and holding weekly after-school sessions in the garden. This would teach students the importance of growing food and plants that attract pollinators.
This blog will share with you the trials and tribulations of our efforts.
Wish us luck!