THE NEIGHBORHOOD REPORTER

Garden project greens up three school campuses in Outer Mission

Project will link sites currently parted by fences

While most students study biology and science in the classroom or a school laboratory, students from James Denman Middle School and Balboa High School have been taking part in real, hands-on field study -- toiling away in an ambitious gardening project that will replace concrete and chain-link fences with plants and trees.

The gardening project kicked off last week at James Denman Middle School, but it will eventually bring together three adjoining school sites in the Excelsior/Outer Mission neighborhood - Denman, Balboa, and San Miguel Child Development Center -- that are currently separate campuses divided by chain-link fences.

The project involves tearing up some of the asphalt and concrete around the schools and replacing it with gardens, and creating pathways and retaining walls to link the three campuses. The gardens, which will be filled with a variety of plants and flowers, not to mention all kinds of creepy, crawly insects, will allow students to study biology, science, and ecological issues up close and personal.

As students hauled in dirt, removed weeds, and planted shrubs in the garden last Wednesday, many of them said they are already learning a lot even though the garden isn't finished yet.

"I've learned a lot of things. I've learned about different types of plants and insects," said 11-year old Debbie Servantes.

The gardening project, known as the OMI/Excelsior Living Library and Think Park, was spearheaded by Bonnie Ora Sherk, founder and president of Life Frames, Inc. an organization which develops designs for indoor/outdoor learning environments for schools. The Living Library project is the first of its kind in San Francisco, and if it's successful it will be the model for a district wide program.

Life Frames, Inc. was recently nominated for a Smithsonian Award for similar projects elsewhere that enhance education about the environment, energy, and agriculture.

"Right now, most schools look like prisons. This is much more conducive to learning," said Sherk. "This garden will help students learning math, science, language arts. All those subjects can come to life for students by studying the garden."

Eleven-year-old Michelle Vail, who spent most of her day making a stone-lined pathway, said she has learned the value of teamwork.

"I like that kids are involved in making the school look nicer," said Vail. "It's nice to see everyone come out and work as a team. I think more schools should have something like this."

Georgene Sanchez of the James Denman PTA, who has two children who were working in the garden, said that in a city where many families don't even have yards, working in the garden is uncharted territory for some students.

Photo: Rory McNamara

James Denman Middle School students Kimberly Vails (left) and Jessica Ngo put the finishing touches on a retaining wall. Their work was part of an effort to link the campuses of Denman, Balboa High School, and Miguel Child Development Center with new gardens and landscaping.

"I think it's great because so many of these children don't have an opportunity to do things like this at home," said Sanchez. "This is a new experience for a lot of these kids."

Joining students, parents, and school staff members at work on the project were about 30 employees of the Home Depot company, which wants to build a store in the neighborhood. For about a year, the big-box retailer of building and garden supplies has been eyeing the vacant Schlage Lock Company property at Bayshore Boulevard and Visitacion Avenue for a huge new store of half a million square feet.

Home Depot employees maintained that their participation in the school garden project was not a ploy to make neighbors sympathetic to the store, but was just about helping out wherever they're needed.

"This is not about positive advertising for Home Depot. We really want to help out," said Jim Beland, leader of the crew of Home Depot volunteers known as Team Depot.

School district spokeswoman Elaine Koury visited the garden last Wednesday, just in time to witness the completion of a pebble lined stream that runs into a pond in the garden.

"We're thankful to all the people involved. These schools will be the most beautiful spot in the neighborhood, as it should be for our children," said Koury.

Denman principal John Ignacio said that although the project took several years to come to light, it was worth it.

"This is the most magnificent thing I've experienced in my 30 years of education," said Ignacio. "To see all the students and staff turn what was a big patch of weeds into a beautiful garden is incredible."