Hall Middle School in Larkspur, California, is the site of a food forest project. Rebecca Newburn, a teacher at the school, teamed up with Permaculture Marin and Marin Master Gardeners to get the project underway.
In March of 2009, several members met on the site to begin taking measurements for a base map and to work on the plant list.
Later that month we had our first work day on the site. Families of Hall School students, Permaculture Marin members, and Marin Master Gardeners dug right in to start preparing the site by pulling up old landscaping cloth, and then sheet mulching with cardboard, compost (donated by Sonoma Compost), and wood chips. It was a beautiful spring day and we had a great time getting much accomplished.
Other work days were held to complete the sheet mulching process, and then a local Boy Scout troop got involved in creating the pathways and leveling the gathering area. In addition, beautiful benches from a fallen redwood tree have been installed.
Our first tree planting work day took place in the December rain, but many trees were planted and a spirit of joy prevailed.
Our first work day in 2010 took place in February, and we began planting the understory and herbs.
More to come as the garden progresses!
