LEARN ABOUT DRIP IRRIGATION AND HELP CREATE NEW “GIVING GARDEN” AT HIGH SCHOOL FOR DISABLED STUDENTS
Drip Irrigation Workshop and Installation Planned for Saturday, April 2
FRESNO, CA Transforming a barren dirt lot into a bountiful “Giving Garden” for students with severe disabilities takes a lot of helping hands.
The free Drip Irrigation Workshop will be held on Saturday, April 2, from 9 a.m. to noon at Rata High School, which is adjacent to Tenaya Middle School, 1373 W. Mesa, Fresno.
The workshop will be taught by Bob Best, district sales manager for Netafim USA, the Fresno irrigation equipment manufacturer donating the drip products.
“We’re calling on gardening enthusiasts and interested community members to help make the Giving Garden reality by volunteering to install a drip system on April 2,” said Shane Halvorsen, president of the parent/teacher group.
“This is a great opportunity for homeowners and gardeners to learn first-hand about drip systems,” said Best. “Volunteers who attend the workshop will be able to put their new irrigation skills to work immediately.”
The first 100 volunteers to check in on April 2 will be given free t-shirts.
Rata High has been a Fresno community resource since 1973, providing educational opportunities for students with disabilities. Today 65 young adults, many confined to wheelchairs, attend Rata and all will benefit from the horticultural project.
Throughout March, participants from the California Ag Leadership Class 40 will be working alongside Rata PTA members to clear the site, build planter beds, erect arbors and create wheelchair-accessible pathways.
California Ag is a statewide training program that promotes the professional development of men and women in the agricultural industry. The organization also actively supports community outreach projects that involve agricultural cultivation, like the Giving Garden. Heading up the Fresno project are California Ag’s Susan and Randy Asadoor.
“The garden will provide valuable new outdoor experiences for all students,” said Halvorsen, whose daughter attends Rata.
“The school curriculum incorporates many of the garden’s attributes, including horticulture, nutrition and even business skills since some of the fruits, vegetables and flowers will be sold at a proposed Rata High Farmer’s Market,” he said.
“To make this a success, we are looking for additional community sponsors who can help with donations of water and food for the volunteers, along with nursery materials,” said Halvorsen.
Sponsors or volunteers interested in making the Giving Garden a reality can contact Shane Halvorsen at 559.908.4766 or Rata High School at 559.451.4585. Project updates and information can be viewed on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/TheGivingGardenatRata.