Composting Solana Vista: Goals and Objectives

Inspired by the 1995 initiative of Delaine Eastin, California State Superintendent, to create "a garden in every school," Solana Vista has created a garden classroom which includes classroom plots, a greenhouse, and a weather station. Our soil demands ecological enrichment of compost. Composting Workshops will train teachers in the essentials of ecologically reusing waste. They will learn how to involve students in the composting process and students will participate in the school composting project. A parent workshop will be conducted in both English and Spanish resulting in improved recycling practices and reduction of waste in the Solana Vista family community. Parents will be given the training to create composting projects at home for the family garden.

Composting Solana Vista: The Process

Solana Vista has an existing garden. It includes fourteen 3' x 9' raised beds, 2 smaller plots, and one well-sized greenhouse. We store the large tools and equipment in the tool shed. Near the shed is an area to place the organic material for composting. Last year, the greenhouse was built by a Boy Scout as a means of earning the Eagle Scout merit. In addition, an irrigation system is currently being installed by our Master Gardener volunteer, John Daily. John works with the UCSD agriculture co-op, as well as participating as a Master Gardener at Quail Botanical Gardens in Encinitas. Mr. Daily has been volunteering his expertise and time every Tuesday afternoon since the beginning of the year. He is available to teachers, students, and parents.

In November, students, teachers, and parent volunteers from grades K-3, helped prepare the garden plots. The plots were filled with weeds and dead plants that were left to overgrow during the summer months. John Daily advised us to turn the bed's soil with compost which we received free from El Corazon Composting Plant in Oceanside. Because the beds were low in soil, we filled them with compost to the top of the raised bed. Once our beds were prepared, we planted a variety of herbs, vegetables, and flowers.

To fully appreciate the composting process, please visit our Composting Solana Vista Photos.

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