Flamson competes for garden grant

School needs public’s help to vote for Seeds of Change garden grant

Flamson Middle School has applied to the Seeds of Change organization in hopes of winning one of 17 grants for up to $20,000. Each year, community based gardens are eligible to apply for a Seeds of Change grant. Seeds of Change was founded in 1989 with a revolutionary mission: to make organically grown seeds available to gardeners and farmers, while preserving rare heirloom and traditional seed varieties, and promoting sustainable organic agricultural practices.

During the San Simeon Earthquake on December 22, 2003, the Flamson main building was severely damaged. Through the efforts of former Congressman Bill Thomas, the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the personnel of Paso Robles Joint Union School District, over $16 million was dedicated to cover the costs of rebuilding the main building. However, an area next to the school was left barren.

In 2012, Flamson Middle School partnered with One Cool Earth to develop a California Natives Garden at the site. The garden emphasizes native plants used by the indigenous Salinan and Chumash tribes, as well as vegetable gardens, home landscaping, and natural building techniques.

The Seeds of Change grant would allow the school to complete the garden by creating more raised planting beds, build a demonstration stage out of recycled plastics, build a rainwater catchment, and provide fencing to control student traffic through the area. Students in the Flamson Garden Club will help design and install the items as well as teach elementary school students and Paso Robles community members about native landscaping, water conservation, local ecology, and gardening.

Their projects will be on display to the entire school, the community, and visiting schools. Voting is open from April 1, 2014 through April 21, 2014. We invite the community to help support the Flamson Middle School California Natives Garden by going to www.seedsofchangegrant.com entering the zip code for Paso Robles, 93446, or garden name, Flamson Middle School Garden, and voting for our project each day between April 1, 2014 and April 21, 2014.