VIVA! Garden contests winners spring 2003

Best Garden Plan - Spring 2003
Teachers Lindy Birkholtz and Deborah Shenfil and their students at the Arellanes Elementary School in Santa Maria collaborated to create a "Blind Garden" where sighted students and visually impaired students worked together to create their garden. The garden is a great source of sensory experience for visually impaired students and the sighted students provide "kid power" to help weed and water. Together it is a great gardening experience for all.

Most Creative Garden Design - Spring 2003
The Mary Silveira Elementary School "EcoStars" (students, teachers, and parent volunteers) in San Rafael created themed gardens in their raised beds with their VIVA! herbs and vegetables. The gardeners there designed a "Salsa Garden", a "Bunny Garden", a "Pizza Garden" and a "Tea Garden" with their VIVA! herbs and vegetables.

Best Use of Space - Spring 2003
Mrs. Rivera and her class at the Taylor School in Santa Maria used different combinations of tiered containers to save space, soil, and water. A very efficient use of space while their school is under construction and the garden is restricted to containers.

Noteworthy Garden Contest Entries - Spring 2003
Kingsley Head Start Gardens, Pomona, CA
Ramona School, Ramona, CA
Pioneer Elementary School, Davis, CA
La Mirada Elementary, San Ysidro, CA
Pueblo Headstart Partnership, Pomona, CA