The sun shone down on gardeners big and small at Harding University Partnership School last Saturday. Around 75 students, families, and staff from Harding and other Santa Barbara Unified schools, as well as UC Santa Barbara, came together for the school’s “Planting Day.”
Volunteers were there bright and early, and worked until as late as 3 p.m. They could be seen mulching, planting, raking, making paths, building plant boxes, and trimming trees to the beat of the Grammy Award–winning children’s music band Alphabet Rockers.
Community member Brook Elier donated trees, plants, and shrubs. Devon Azzam, a doctorate student at UCSB, helped with the organizational flow. And tons of little hands got down in the dirt to make a difference.
“It is truly remarkable the amount of work that can be done when so many pitch in!” beamed Principal Veronica Binkley. The green-thumbed crew was able to plant the campus’s new “School Yard Forest” and bring shade to the school for “our children’s children,” she said.
Skilled families tended the garden and built garden boxes for Harding. | Credit: Courtesy 
Gardeners of all ages came out to help on “Planting Day” at Harding University Partnership School. | Credit: Courtesy 
Little hands need little shovels. | Credit: Courtesy 
Around 75 people showed up to help Harding University Partnership school beautify its campus. | Credit: Courtesy 
Volunteers mulched the ground outside Harding University Partnership School for the school’s “Planting Day.” | Credit: Courtesy 
Students assisted their parents with the dirty work. | Credit: Courtesy
