Garden Committee News
The Edible School Garden at Mt. Washington Elementary didn't grow itself — it's the result of passionate community members, dedicated teachers, and a whole lot of dirt under fingernails.
Our Garden Spaces — We have two main garden spaces on campus: the lower garden on the main yard, and the upper garden nestled beside and behind the kindergarten classrooms. Together, they're the heart of something pretty special. And we're not stopping there — FOMWS parents are actively volunteering their time to add new plantings throughout the campus.
We're also dreaming big for the Reading Garden: imagine more native plants, tree stumps and rocks to perch on, and the kind of wild, exploratory nature play that makes learning feel like an adventure.
What We're Growing (Besides Vegetables) The Garden Program at Mt. Washington is on a mission: to spark genuine love, curiosity, and respect for our planet — starting with the native plants of Southern California. Students tend to well-maintained plant beds alongside their teachers and parent volunteers, getting their hands dirty and their minds working. Our upper-grade students also get to learn from an instructor who brings something truly unique to the garden: his own native ancestry, traditions, and deep knowledge of native plants. It's gardening and living history.
Every class has its own planter box, and kids are involved in the whole journey — from pressing a seed into soil to throwing a salad party at harvest time. Yes, a salad party. It's exactly as fun as it sounds.
Since its launch in 2009, the Edible School Garden has woven itself into the academic fabric of the school, bringing subjects like science, reading, writing, and art to life in ways a textbook simply can't. When kids grow their own food, everything clicks differently.
NEXT UP: A New Front Entrance!
We're reimagining the area in front of the school — starting with replacing our beloved-but-aging sign, which has been standing for over 30 years. The goal is to create a first impression that truly reflects what makes Mt. Washington Elementary so special: a school as vibrant, unique, and full of life as the community it belongs to.
GARDEN RESOURCES
Go to our blog at mwschoolgarden.wordpress.com to learn more about the activities we do with the children at school and how you can help! There are many resources for garden reps here.
Join as a volunteer! Contact your child's teacher or email mwschoolgarden@gmail.com or fill out the form below.
OUR SUPPORTERS
A special thank you to:
Orchard Supply Hardware in South Pasadena for donating seeds!
Home Depot in Glassell Park for donating gardening materials & soil!
Whole Foods for awarding us a grant.
Every community member who has enrolled in Farm Fresh to You.