Teaching Agriculture to Students

A butterfly garden has been in the works for quite a few years now at Plymouth Elementary School. Bruce Peccianti, former principal, and a few other locals helped make it come together. It's in our heritage to volunteer at this school, and Jim and Mike visit weekly. Mike's daughter, Amber, helps with presentations about Beneficial Bugs and Drip Line Installation (she's two.) Click for Monarch Wallpaper

Farmers' Kids

The kids in Amador County - especially Plymouth and Shenandoah Valley - are all farmers' kids and they work hard. When we plant and install projects, we have guest speakers come in and teach about botany, forestry, lepidoptery, and more. Click for a Larger Image. At far left: the netted green cage the milkweed grows in. The entire 2.5 acre campus is planned as a habitat, with other parks in Plymouth participating, too.

Centered Around the Shade Pavilion

Here's a shot showing tithonias and teddy bear sunflowers growing as a "cover crop" in the summer of 2008. The shade pavilion was built and donated by the Swason Family as a PEP Club project. The entire school can fit under this structure for an assembly! Click for a Larger Image.

Built to Last and to Make the School Money

The gardens are recognized as a National Wildlife Federation Certified Backyard Habitat; Monarch Waystation #1544; and a Farms of Amador member. Jim gives his lectures for the Farm Bureau's California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom. Mike, a UCCE Master Gardener, utilizes a lot of resources for his projects. The Gardens has a license pending to sell at Farmer's Markets and other venues for fundraising. This is a special project because it belongs to the kids. The preschoolers go on insect hunts in the garden and help plant wildflower seed. The 4th - 6th graders shovel the soil and Weed Warrior Parents help to clean it all up. The culinary class at the high school will use the herbs and other classes there will benefit, too. Donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. Write check to Amador Community Foundation and note in the lower left corner "Plymouth Elementary School Gardens Fund" and send to ACF at P.O. Box 1154, Jackson, CA 95642. Please subscribe to The Gold Country Times for a series of articles about the garden. Past articles are posted online. When you visit the tasting room, you can see dozens of butterfly bushes blooming in the picnic area. Enjoy them here, then buy one at Amador Flower Farm for your yard!