Bryant Ranch Garden Club: The Little Diggers

It’s a busy time for the Garden Club at Bryant Ranch School. Aptly named “The Little Diggers,” the students were treated to two very unique events, as well as a campus cleanup effort on Earth Day.

In early April, students visited the newly built Whole Foods Market in Brea for a special behind-the-scenes tour of the store. The tour started in the produce department, where the marketing manager talked about locally grown produce, and how produce gets inspected before entering the store. Students were given freshly cut samples of oranges, pineapples and grapes. The students then visited the meat department, where each of them sampled sliced roast beef and sausages. The students proceeded through the fresh baked goods and cheese department, and indulged in Whole Foods’ own house brand of string cheese. After all the treats and samples, students and their parents were led upstairs to the kitchen, where Whole Foods hosts cooking classes for kids on a monthly basis.

The Little Diggers were then given the opportunity to learn about water conservation. The Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC) came to Bryant Ranch to talk to the students about drought-tolerant plants, how to determine how much water is needed and preventing overwatering. The students were also given gifts of poppy seeds, stickers and a water-saving pamphlet.

The Bryant Ranch Garden Club, now in its second year, meets twice a month on Fridays. Each and every student participates in taking care of the school garden. They have grown beans, strawberries, carrots, cabbage, radish and broccoli, and are currently growing sweet corn, tomatoes and kale. They also have a kumquat plant, as well as an abundant supply of fresh herbs!

At the meetings, The Little Diggers discuss garden basics, such as planting, harvesting and maintenance. They also include important topics, such as sustainability in the garden, farm-to-table, earth-friendly gardening, and recycling and repurposing.

At the end of the school year, the Garden Club also thanks its students, volunteers and school staff with a party serving only healthy and delicious foods!