Guest Editorial: Good People Grace Our Garden

— by Madie Murray for the Orcas Island Farm to Cafeteria Program —

There are so many unsung heroes on our Island. It would take a novel to laud them all. But I’d like to mention three that have given so much to our Public School Garden over the past few years: John Olson (The Tree Doctor), Craig Sanders (Island Irrigation), and Jorgen Harle (Orcas Island Forge.)

John gets a fresh garden pizza for his generosity this time

We know John has been around when we come to school and find a huge pile of fresh wood chips at our garden gate. It’s a “hit and run” of the nicest kind. This material is what makes our garden paths so beautiful and enriches the soil in the process. John expects absolutely nothing for his generosity and usually shies away from public acknowledgement. I truly believe that he gets his reward when he sees the kids carry the chips to their places, romp on the piles and take pride in what they accomplish because of him.

Colleen and our water guru, Craig

Craig has, over the past couple of years, installed the irrigation system in our expanded garden area so we can fully utilize the rainwater catchment system and maintain a constant flow of moisture to every part of the garden, clear down to the gates. Generous gifters to the Farm to Cafeteria Program donated the tank and paid for much of the materials for the system; but Craig, after initially installing the system, has been spending untold hours of his own time over the past year perfecting the system, adding enhancements here and there, and helping our garden keeper understand the pump and maintenance of the system. The garden is flourishing because of him.

How many ways can we say “awesome”!

Jorgen is the “father” of our beautiful double gates at the road-facing entrance to the garden. What a gorgeous and lasting gift he has given. First, he and Tom Gossett built the gates. Then, for two summers, Jorgen welcomed kids to his blacksmith shop and worked with them to forge the beautiful ornaments that adorn it. The last ornament was attached this June. Our beautiful gates bring elegance to our garden because of him.

If you haven’t visited the school garden lately, I urge you to do so soon when it’s at its grandest. Take a stroll through the beautiful gates (be sure to close them when you leave so deer and rabbits don’t have dinner on our enviable veggies) and appreciate the many hearts and hands that have made this the lovely and productive outdoor classroom it is. Since 1995 when it was first envisioned by a teacher Valerie Stone, until now – 20 years later – hundreds of generous, unselfish souls have nourished it to its current grandeur so our students can learn and grow and thrive on the lessons of Mother Nature. How sweet is that?