Embercombe, a social enterprise in Devon, helps children build an edible garden at a primary school in Plymouth
The makers of the LA VICTORIA® Brand are proud to announce Palms Elementary School as the winner of the 2014 LA VICTORIA® Brand School Garden Makeover! As part of the reward, the California-based Mexican salsa and sauces brand provided a ,000 grant to the school that will help with: gardening tools & supplies, expert guidance, learning materials and more.
Palms Elementary School is determined to incorporate the value of gardening into its curriculum. Although an existing garden is in place, the school faces numerous obstacles in developing their ultimate vision. Minimal shade, basic tools and little-to-no funding are just a few hurdles. Additionally, limited shade over the garden has made learning in the garden difficult as children are subject to the hot California sun during its peak time of day. Currently, the garden is maintained by a beautification committee, made up of teachers, administrators, parents and the community. However, with La VICTORIA® Brand’s grant support behind Palms Elementary, students will have the opportunity to learn about fresh vegetables in a safe and healthy environment.
A group of community volunteers and LA VICTORIA® brand employees broke ground last month to clear space for the new garden. The garden makeover will be executed with the help of the Motor Avenue Improvement Association (MAIA), a non-profit organization that works to improve the Motor Community in the Palms area, one of the densest areas in Los Angeles. The Palms garden makeover project will include new raised garden beds, a drip irrigation system, a shade sail system to protect children from the sun, a compost system and outdoor shed to keep new tools safe. To facilitate garden lessons outside, bench seating and an outdoor table will be provided. The makeover will also include a donation of a variety of plants and trees.