Danville Gets Sustainable: The Buzz on Monte Vista High School's Sustainable Garden

is taking a big step towards becoming sustainable. The Monte Vista Sustainable Garden Club was started late last year by a group of environmentally conscious students who hope to use the project to improve their school, community and the environment.

One of the students' main objectives is to build awareness around the issues facing our environment, and how these issues affect our community and the world. While that may seem like a huge task, the students’ believe the solution begins by creating a positive change towards sustainability in the community and on campus. This is why they choose the slogan “Act Local, Think Global.” They believe that by making small improvements in their "own backyard," they can ultimately improve the world.

The garden club has met numerous times over the last two months, electing officers who have come up with creative ways to make sure the garden will be beneficial to the school community and the environment. The club plans to collaborate with the culinary arts program at Monte Vista High School offering fresh vegetables and herbs for cooking classes. Plans for an on-campus composting system will also reduce waste that would end up in the landfill, while also replenishing the soil season to season. The club also hopes to work with the on-campus childcare program providing hands-on learning to the younger kids about plants and "yummy" organic vegetables.

“In joining this club, we are making new friends, sharing a love for nature and getting involved in the community," said Randy Hoffman, co-president and Monte Vista senior. "Our officers have toured organic gardens in other schools, met and talked with local environmentalists, and attended exciting events to get ideas on how to be more green."

The garden club is grateful for the positive feedback and support they have received from school administration, teachers and other students who are ready to "get their hands in the dirt."

“There will be no trouble finding helping hands for the planting and care of this garden," said Monte Vista senior Kat Mathis, also co-president of the club. "So many students are eager to help Monte Vista ‘go green.’ We want the garden to be an on-going project that will last into the future and hopefully improve every year as new students enter the club”.

Although the founders of the Garden Club are seniors, there are plenty of underclassmen that have joined to continue this project after Hoffman and Mathis graduate.

"Our garden will be a gift to our school and its students that will keep on giving," Hoffman said.

The Monte Vista Garden Club has planned a fundraiser movie night on Jan. 25, showing the documentary Queen of the Sun: What are the Bees Telling Us? This documentary takes a look at what is happening to the modern bee populations and what we can do to help. The movie night will be held in the Al Gentile Theater at the Monte Vista High School at 6:45 p.m. The club is encouraging parents and students to come learn about the fascinating world of bees and support the club.

Before the movie, starting at 6 p.m., there will be a honey tasting from local beekeeper Amy McCurdy of Steve’s Bees. Sample the nuances of honey from local bees and enjoy a delicious treat from the culinary program bake sale. 

Author Linda Riebel will also be selling her book The Green Foodprint: Food Choices for Healthy People and a Healthy Planet. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the MVHS Sustainable Garden program.

For more information about the event, visit Sustainable Danville Area, the Monte Vista Garden Facebook page or the garden's website at www.sites.google.com/site/MVHSsustainablegarden.

Monte Vista High School student Ellie Kazemi wrote this article.