What a way to start the New Year. I worked for the first time with a video production crew comprised of volunteers who all had one goal in mind. Shoot footage of the local community transform a weed infested and overgrown yard of Pine Hill School in San Jose, CA school into a colorful and thriving garden. On a cloudy Saturday morning, the crew and about 30 other adults and children braved intermittent showers, 50 degree temps and periods of sunshine playing peek a boo with the gray clouds.
The organizers of this first time event are on a mission. To inform, inspire and spread the word that local communities and non-profit organizations can band together and fill the educational void or gap that is desperately needed in the public and private school system, especially for children with specific and special needs. Pine Hill School is a special education school and has been serving the South Bay community for more than 35 years.
I didn’t now know who would show up since the Bay Area survived its first full week of thundershowers. Saturday, January 21st was the much needed break. Plus it was my first time working with eight people from the production team. So I was naturally full of anticipation and excitement when I arrived at the school to meet my new team cohorts. As far as gardening volunteers, I guessed that at best, at least a dozen would appear. But to the organizers and my surprise, 30 arrived! A family of three (thanks Gay Bawanan) came as far as Sacramento; the others came from Santa Clara County such as Milpitas and North San Jose. I was the lone San Franciscan.
The volunteers arrived at 10am and were plowing away past lunchtime.Some of the volunteers don’t have a garden or never explored their green thumbs. A majority brought their own gardening tools. What’s more impressive is that they were still working at high speed past the 3:00pm - the designated clock out time.
A local family were one of the few groups that stayed past 3:00 pm. I rarely saw the papa-san (who was probably in his late 60's- early 70's), his deep furrowed brows covered with sweat, take a break. He and his family told me they have their own garden and often receive compliments on its beauty. The son said his father loves gardening can do it all day.
Three mothers told me they had a sore back from all the bending, digging, and shoveling. My prescription: dip into a hot tube, deep tissue massage and a big hearty meal! Hopefully their chuckles brought some temporary relief. As true garden warriors, they returned to the dirt mounds without complaint. What troopers!
It’s good that a playground was nearby for the little ones to blow off steam and make new friends. I was so impressed by how all the kids were well behaved and that they weren’t squeamish about getting dirty, discovering earthworms and helping each other out. The proud moment for all was when some of the young girls planted colorful flowers in their freshly plowed flower beds. To see their faces of proud accomplishment was more bright and eye catching than a rainbow after a thunderstorm break. Their smiles were the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
This collaborative effort is the brain child of Vincent Lowe, Managing Director of Schoolhouse Earth, a nonprofit organization delivering alternative and local educational programs…anywhere, and Jennifer Timmerman, Pine Hill School Parent Coordinator/School Liaison. Her son is a student at the school.
For more information about Schoolhouse Earth, visit http://www.transformationofeducation.org/schoolhouseearth/index.html
For more information about Pine Hill School, visit http://www.secondstart.org/pinehill.html
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