Reported by Marivic Marko
Photos by: Caroline Malouf, Caroline Malouf Photography
Original Article
On September 30th, Sycamore Canyon School (SCS) officially opened the Edible Lab with a ribbon cutting ceremony. With approximately 250 people in attendance throughout the event, visitors browsed through booths sponsored by Blue Sky Biochar, Organic Solution, Organic Soul, the Simi Conejo 4H club, City of Thousand Oaks, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, UC Hansen Agricultural Research & Extension Center, and our local food bank, Manna. The community learned about different ways to conserve water, how to make your lawn better in these drought conditions, and organic planting. Visitors took home seeds to start their own butterfly garden, and got a chance to view live goats and a rabbit agility demonstration by the 4H club! Even our own SCS students, Mrs. Smith’s 6
th grade students, had a booth and sold milkweed as part of their class project.
During the official ribbon cutting ceremony, Jo Louie, the Garden Project Chair, shared with the crowd that the Edible Lab was made possible with grants from the City of Thousand Oaks, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Whole Kids Foundation, and the Sycamore Canyon School PTSA. Marivic Marko, the Adopt the Garden Coordinator, thanked the local community, such as the Miller Family YMCA, the Conejo Valley United Soccer Club (U15 B99 Storm) and the Sycamore Builder’s Club, and other volunteers who contributed to the growth of the garden. She introduced Geraldine Christie, the Conejo Valley Garden Club’s Youth Gardening Committee Chairperson, who presented us with a donation to the Sycamore Canyon Garden. The Conejo Valley Garden Club supports local schools with gardens throughout the district, and Sycamore is fortunate to be a recipient of their generosity for the second year in a row. John Malouf, the Scout Coordinator, recognized and awarded certificates to the Eagle Scouts, and Girl Scouts who built the tables, benches, vegetable planters, and mosaics in the garden. Lastly, Phylicia Bulmer, the Edible Lab Coordinator, introduced the Edible Lab to the community. Pumpkins, garbanzo beans, herbs and lettuce are bountiful in the garden at this time. And it is with this bounty, that we are proud to be in partnership with Manna, the oldest food bank in Thousand Oaks. The fresh produce that is harvested from the garden is currently being donated to Manna on a regular basis. Jennifer Schwabauer, Executive Director of Manna, presented Sycamore Canyon with a Hunger Heroes award to recognize the efforts and donations of the Edible Lab.
Click here for media coverage from the Ventura County STAR
