Story and Photos by Jondi Gumz
On May 1, Children’s Day, Starlight Elementary School showcased how Emeril’s Culinary Garden — complete with a Teaching Kitchen — has grown over the past 18 months.
The plants in the garden were lush, with peas hanging from vines, and a colorful mural next to an equally colorful patch of native flowers.
The gardens are part of LifeLab, a nonprofit that partners with 13 Pajaro Valley Unified School District schools to cultivate learning through nutritious food and nature via garden-based lessons.
Seven baby chicks, four weeks old, were kept for safety in the office of Principal Jackie Medina until they made their debut in a gated area.
Students waited patiently in a long line for a chance to actually hold one of the chicklings.
Lupita Flores, a K-2 teacher with a specialty in science, gently put a chick in the child’s hands for that experience. She had help from high school student volunteers earning community service hours.
“Kids come knocking on the gate wanting to help,” said teacher John Fisher, noting one student collects snails, which have to be relocated to protect the plants. “Kids love helping.”
One mom asked him about soil for a new plant she was taking home.
“There’s soil over there,” he said, sharing that her son helps in the garden.
She walked away, beaming.
At some points, the chicks will become hens that lay eggs that can be made into tasty snacks in the kitchen.
Jim Edens, Medina’s husband, built the chicken cage. Son Ben Edens, 25, built the arbor.
Eliséo Martinez, with LifeLab, installed the 3,000-gallon water tank, a system to catch rainwater from the roof to water plants, the compost bin, and the rack of neatly organized garden gloves.
In the professionally equipped kitchen, LifeLab teacher Noemi Romo supervised kids preparing beverages to be served to visitors.
When the Pajaro River levee failed and flooded the town of Pajaro, the kitchen was the place where meal kits were prepared for evacuees in hotels.
Romo said students have made “all sorts of yummy food,” salad, zucchini, squash, and broccoli.
Vivian, in second grade, wants to be a chef.
Out in the garden, Romo pointed out a ladybug on a leaf of the fava beans taking the place of pesticides — earing aphids.
