Health and wellness are very important concerns for all parents and teachers. One of the best ways to instill a lifelong appreciation for good nutrition and exercise is through exposing children to working in a garden. Not only do they learn where food comes from, but they also have an opportunity to be involved in physical exercise that is both enjoyable and relaxing. There is nothing so rewarding as pulling out a carrot from your garden to taste its sweet, earthy flavor, unlike anything you can find in a store (even organic). Each time we dig a patch of dirt it is like a new adventure — what worms and bugs are we going to discover this time? Gardening is an activity that wakes up all our senses and constantly sparks our curiosity.

Sandpiper Elementary is in the process of developing a school garden with these ideas in mind. In order for our project to succeed we will need help from our Redwood Shores community. Are you a landscape designer (or do you know one) who could donate some time and expertise to help us design a useful and beautiful garden that will be the pride of our community? Are you a contractor with some spare time to help us build structurally sound elements of our garden? We will definitely accept all the help you can offer. Do you have untreated redwood or cedar 1x6s, 2x6s, 4x4s leftover from your projects? Are you planning to rip out your old deck and don’t know what to do with all the wood that still can be used? We might be able to use it in the construction of planter boxes, benches, and other structures in our garden. Are you an avid gardener whose garden is too small? This is a project for you, for we will need help and guidance in planting and maintaining our garden. If you are interested in participating in our project, please contact our science teacher Ms. Nicole La Count at