Sustaining the Garden Program: Community + Partnerships

Forging connections with the community and developing a variety of partnerships is the secret to this program’s sustainability.

Mr. James’ Vision

Mike James has been the energy and vision behind the garden-ag program at Blaker Kinser Jr. High since 1994.   “Mike is one of those persons who gives and gives and gives and does this along with the academics. It’s rare to find someone like that. He’s sincere, open and honest, and the kids know he cares.  He’s respectful, and expects a certain quality. He makes learning fun,” says a former student who is now the Director of Educational Options and Community Relations in Ceres.

Partnerships with the high school and junior college

  • Mr. James’s vision for a school garden began in collaboration with Don Borges, who was then the Ag Science teacher at the High school.  Don and Mike knew that to keep the High School agriculture program vital, they had to start early, so the junior high school program became a feeder for the high school program.
  •  The Junior High program teaches students first about StanislausCounty, then California agriculture.  Students learn the history of the region and visit dairies and poultry operations.  This program prepares them for higher education, and even becomes a career track for some students.
  • The High School now has five agriculture teachers—unique among California high schools.  Mr. Borges has moved on to ModestoJunior College, and continues his collaboration with Mr. James.

Mr. James’s vision for a school garden began in collaboration with Don Borges, who was then the Ag Science teacher at the High school.  Don and Mike knew that to keep the High School agriculture program vital, they had to start early, so the junior high school program became a feeder for the high school program.

Partnerships with community members

  • Local Nursery and Seed companies: Lockhardt Seed Company in Stockton has provided seeds and transplants over the years, and has been a great partner.  Donated garlic, tomato starts, etc.
  • Solid Waste Management Company provides ten yards of compost every year and other services.
  • School site maintenance and operations are invaluable.  The school custodian helped obtain the storage container which acts as the tool shed by convincing administration that it could have multiple uses.  He also has donated tools and parts of tools.
  • California Fertilizer Foundation has provided grant money and equipment and supplies.
  • California Department of Education garden grants.
  • Jackson Perkins donated all the roses.
  • Formed a friendship and partnership with an older couple across the street from the school.  They had olive trees, and eventually the students helped them harvest their olives and meanwhile learned all about olive growing and production.

Support from the district

They get a lot of support from their Principal and from the district.  They also get support from the maintenance and grounds people. Mike can do a lot of the maintenance, but sometimes he can’t. Sometimes he needs help, and he will get that from the district people when they are on the grounds. Sometimes he gets extra stuff.

Q: Did you have to go through any district thing for the irrigation?

A: No. Don and I just figured it out. We had someone “stub it out from the main” and we I went and got a pressure regulator to keep it regulated.

Parents and kids

  • To Mr. James, the neatest thing about the program has been to have enough space so the kids can grow real crops and show them at the Fair.  During the summer he gets great parental involvement. Some parents come to water and take care of the garden throughout the summer.

Resources: How we do it

  • One full time paid agriculture/science teacher, Mr. James.
  • There is no other paid staff working on the program.
  • There’s a small amount in the school budget each year ($80 - $100) for the garden.  Mr. James contributes the rest out of his own pocket.
  • Donations come in the form of wood, some irrigation parts, some tools, seeds and transplants, and various materials.
  • Friends, custodian, parents and volunteers donate time and skills, e.g., welding for a small barbeque, tools, putting in posts for shade structure.
  • Kids do a lot of the work.

“I like it because it’s always seemed fun to me to work with plants and gardens, it’s a real fun class.” (Randy)