The Latest Dirt - September 2024

New Co-Lead Amanda Merrill on School Gardens

by David George

Recent New Volunteer Training graduate Amanda Merrill has been busy in our program. In addition to sampling other projects, she volunteered last month to be our new School Gardens co-lead for East County schools. Why did she choose to help with our county school gardens, teachers, and students so soon? I interviewed her the other day, and here is what I learned.

Before applying to become a Contra Costa UC Master Gardener, what did you do?

“I was a stay-at-home mom for many years but had a strong interest in gardening. I grew up in London, so I’m a city girl! (Amanda laughs) I came to the U.S. when I was 19 as a college student. Years later, I helped out as a parent volunteer in my daughter’s Kindergarten class. I fell in love with that role and decided to earn my teaching credential and Master of Education degree. That was in 1998, and it led to a 25-year teaching career in elementary school classrooms at Vintage Parkway School in Oakley. After retiring in 2022, I helped build their new instructional garden, and I continue to help expand it.”

So, you retired from teaching in 2022 and applied immediately to be a UC Master Gardener?

“Yes, I wanted to challenge myself, so I applied for the 2023-24 New Volunteer Training class and was certified just this past March. It seems like a long time ago because I’ve been so busy. I’ve worked in several Ask A Master Gardener farmers market booths and was a cashier’s helper during our 2024 Great Tomato Plant Sale. But mostly, I have been active with East County school gardens. I love continuing to interact with teachers, parents, and kids. And I am fascinated by what we can grow in our climate. I had never grown pumpkins, potatoes, or cilantro. The kids are also excited about what they can grow. You know, modern kids don’t even know how to plant marigolds or veggie seeds, how to use a shovel or spade, and where tomatoes come from, Safeway? (she laughs). It’s all new and exciting to them, and it’s rewarding to me to share my knowledge.”

How is the new Vintage Parkway school garden coming along?

“Marvelously! The principal has been very supportive and gave a sizable portion of her discretionary budget to buy the tools, materials and plants to start the garden. You know Oakley is mostly a disadvantaged community, and many families struggle to make ends meet. The grant funding was crucial. The garden has parent participation now, and student volunteers surged from three in the spring to 10 this fall. The planting beds feature pumpkins, tomatoes and marigolds. Marigolds are especially important to Hispanic families, as they are symbolic flowers for the Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) holiday in November. The most fun project for me this year has been the salsa garden – tomatoes, onions, peppers and cilantro. We made batches of salsa for the students, which they enjoyed in the classrooms with chips while teachers read them a complimentary story called, Chicks and Salsa.”

Complimentary stories along with fresh garden food?

“Yes, it’s a great way to introduce the younger students to gardening, eating homegrown food, AND reading at the same time. Teachers have also read the story Stone Soup, where a waif tricks an adult into making a delicious soup with potatoes, onions, meat and a stone, but it’s removed at the end, of course. This connects kid’s literature with the real garden growing at their school. Teachers are developing a whole library now that is “garden lit.”

“The garden also grows hollyhocks to attract painted lady butterflies. The new garden has benches, so it is popular for kids to hang out, relax and breathe fresh air. A favorite spot for one particular child who has emotional issues is the recirculating water fountain. He sits on its rim and dangles his hands into the flowing water. You can see how the splashing water calms him.”

What message would you share, Amanda, with your fellow newbie UC Master Gardeners?

“Well, I thought at the outset that I would not be allowed to work with kids in our school gardens. I was wrong. As long as another adult, usually a parent or teacher is present, there’s no issue with instructing or working with kids during the fulfillment of our UC Master Gardeners support role. No FBI background check or fingerprinting is required! I also like to get my hands dirty in my training or support role. I thought that was not allowed, but it is – you just can’t record those hours as program volunteer hours toward our annual requirements. Get involved with school gardens. With teachers and parents so busy these days, if we don’t help kids move away from their screens and into gardens, who will? We need volunteers to help rebuild this important UC Master Gardener role now that schools are rejuvenating their gardens following the pandemic years.”

Thanks, Amanda, for your wonderful perspectives on school gardens and for jumping in to help lead the effort.