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By Jared DeBest, TMA 5th Grader

TMA has a wonderful garden where students get to enjoy and learn about planting. We have parents, classroom Garden Masters, who help us each month in the garden with our lessons and activities. We also have Master Gardeners who teach our classroom Garden Masters all about gardening and tying academic concepts to work in the garden. They were trained and certified as Master Gardeners in the amazing University of California Continuing Education Master Gardener Program. The two Master Gardeners who graciously volunteer their time in our garden are Teena Spindler and Joanne Byrd.

Teena has been our very own TMA Master Gardener since our garden started when I was in first grade. She had a big part in helping make our garden what it is today. What she likes most about gardening is the beauty and perfection of flowers and vegetables. Teena started gardening when she was 8 years old and her mom gave her a packet of flower seeds. She chose to give her time to TMA because gardening is important in her life and she wants to teach children about it. She likes to be on the team of gardeners here at TMA because our garden programs are so well organized and managed. What she loves most about helping with the TMA garden is hearing stories of what the kids have experienced in the garden and hearing about how some have started their own gardens at home.

The TMA Garden is so lucky to have the love and support of multiple community members from TMA families, local businesses to nonprofit organizations. We couldn’t be successful without their time and funding.

The benefit of this blog is that we get a chance to publicly thank those that give so much to our garden. For example, recently we received a $200 donation from a TMA parent, Barbara Biela, whose daughter is a fifth grader. She’s been donating to the garden since 2009. We really appreciate your support, Barbara.

Also many local businesses support our garden. Just a few weeks ago, Slow Food, Orange County donated $450 for garden tools. They are just one of many local businesses that have been long-time garden supporters. Also, we found an online business, Peaceful Valley GrowOrganic.com that donates seeds to schools.

George Pallete, a 15-year-old sophomore at Foothill High School, is currently a Life Scout (on his way to Eagle Scout) from Troop 36.

He attended Tustin Memorial Academy for elementary school. George enjoyed his time at TMA, where he made lots of friends and had great teachers. He has many good memories from his time at TMA and wanted to give back to the school.

When George was planning his Eagle Project, he contacted TMA first to check if there was something that would meet his Eagle Project requirements. He was told that the garden was in need of a bigger, more durable bench.