Dec 9, 2007

School celebrates educational garden

Grant designed to help offer instruction outdoors

By Melanie Carroll / Daily News Staff Writer

Castro Elementary first-grader Duane Lathrop may only be 6 years old, but he already has a broad interest in science. His favorite topics include hurricanes, spaceships, animals, plants and insects.

Duane, who hopes to become a scientist, was on hand Saturday morning as 15 Monarch butterflies were released into the newly completed Redwood Garden Classroom.

The colorful butterflies will do more than simply inhabit the garden, they will serve as an educational tool as students observe their life cycle, said MaryRuth Bafrali, a garden organizer and member of the PTA's garden committee.

Dozens of volunteers contributed a total of 1,000 hours over two years to create the garden. That work included removing asphalt, where flowers now bloom, Bafrali said.

The garden features two coast redwoods; an agricultural section including flowers, artichokes and other traditionally-grown California produce; plus a chaparral area that displays the region's native landscape.

"It's a gem," Bafrali said. "I love it."

Fellow volunteer and father Scott Haber said the project was completed on a shoestring budget of $12,000, adding that he is ecstatic to see it come to fruition.

"It's fantastic. They love to play here," said mother Stephanie Lathrop. "A lot of the students live in apartment complexes" and may not have green spaces on which to play.

In the garden, students will learn about measurements, the plants necessary for butterfly life and mapping, said volunteer and mother Theresa Lester.

The state Department of Education granted the school and others in the Mountain View-Whisman School District $20,000 to help develop curricula designed to teach children science in the outdoors. Seventeen years ago, state educators determined that every school ought to have an instructional garden. More than 30 percent of mid-Peninsula schools feature such gardens, said Alison Hicks, fundraising chair of the Castro Elementary PTA.

The state grant will cover a small stipend for Lester to work with teachers to develop lessons for K-5 classes that involve the garden.

In addition to science, writing, reading and mathematics may also be incorporated into garden-related lessons.

"We're trying to connect to the outdoors," parent Haber said. "So many people are so far removed."



E-mail Melanie Carroll at

mcarroll@dailynewsgroup.com.