On Saturday, September 9, 2017, CommunityGrows kicked off its partnership with Rosa Parks Elementary by literally moving over 40 cubic feet of beautiful soil into the two school gardens. Parents and students, many from the Green Team of the PTA, began arriving around 10am and pitched in where needed. It was a warm and sunny day, with lots of sweat equity going on. 
An hour into the workday, everyone came together in the lower garden to rehydrate and partake in the delicious spread brought by the parents.
One of our new CommunityGrows Advisory Board members, Jessica Jauw, came to help out with her nephew. 
It was here that our new Rosa Parks Garden Educator, Anna Luberoff, emphasized the dire need to get all the soil moved by 1pm. Crews mobilized with five wheelbarrows, and by the end of the day, all soil had been brought into the gardens. Beds were shaped in an empty area 24 feet wide with 18 inch paths, and soil was added to all the plots. 
Drip lines were moved, dead plants pulled, and soil broken up and rejuvenated. Weeds invading raised planter boxes and fruit trees were weeded. Strawberry and blueberry plants were transplanted into temporary pots. Raspberries were pruned. Sage was dug up and transplanted. Beds in the lower garden were weeded and soil added. Trash was picked up and paths were mulched with straw. It was an extremely ambitious day for our Garden Educator’s first workday!
Congratulations Anna for doing such an amazing job! 
For more photos from the day check out our Flickr Photostreatm here.