After many months of planning and developing building and gardening skills, our Mission High School partners passed a major milestone this week and planted in their newly constructed garden boxes at the west end of the MHS football field. The dedicated group of students used salvaged and donated materials to build elevated boxes, in consideration of students who are mobility-challenged.

These boxes are the first of several that begin to define the Mission Gardens, a centerpiece of the school’s greening efforts. Pie Ranch staff Karen Heisler and super-volunteer Lauren Anderson have provided weekly support to this momentous development at Mission this year, and have been gratified by the students’ ownership in the project, evidenced by their enthusiastic spirit, early arrival to the weekly work session, gusto with power tools, and willingness to stay on after the bell rings!

Special thanks to the many supporters and partners in this effort, including teachers Mark D’Aquisto and Matt Heller for their delight and enthusiasm, the Mission Science Center for tool-lending, Logan Design and Construction for reclaimed building materials, the Environmental Service Learning Initiative and Nextcourse for support and encouragement, and Lauren Anderson for her generous contributions of materials and time.