Community garden takes root in South Tahoe

By Kathryn Reed

Hands covered in dirt, a trowel being passed around, plastic containers of tiny produce, laughter and learning. It’s all part of the recipe to create a community garden behind Mt. Tallac High School.

Dirt in five raised beds made of bamboo are gently being molded into rows. Miniature holes are dug with what’s called the tiny shovel. In go the spinach, lettuce, radishes, carrots, basil and cilantro.

Bijou and South Tahoe High students start a community garden. Photos/Kathryn Reed

A net covers the beds to prevent critters from munching on the veggies.

This is all part of the final project for a group of students in AP Environmental Science at South Tahoe High School.

Mostly, though, it’s eight students in the Friday Night Live club from Bijou Community School doing the work.

Danny Reyes, a junior at STHS, spearheaded the project to get the younger students involved. He and a few of his friends who were part of the planting project on Thursday are mentors to the FNL kids.

Once a week the older students do a team building activity with the FNL group.

Catheryn Linkul plants cilantro.

“I like making more things for the Earth,” Catheryn Linkul said. If the fourth-grader’s mom lets her, she hopes to be able to check on the garden this summer.

Dana Tumbaga said the idea is to get the community involved in the garden. People who help with it this summer will be able to have some of the harvest.

Reyes said the students are working it out among themselves on

Danny Reyes makes sure the work is getting done.

a rotating basis to ensure the garden is cared for.