About the garden program

The NDE garden program runs on a collaborative effort of parent volunteers, school staff, district maintenance support, and financial support from the NDE PTA and Davis Farm to School. Parent volunteers coordinate garden class schedules, provide supplies, help maintain garden areas, and volunteer as classroom "garden parents" to lead groups of students in activities such as planting, harvesting, scarecrow-making and cooking. Suggested lesson plans are made available to classes interested in gardening, although teachers are also free to devise their own lesson plans.

Our main garden areas

Science Garden Boxes: Twelve numbered boxes are available for planting of annual edible crops and flowers.  Eleven of the boxes are on an automated irrigation system.

California Natives Garden: This small plot is adjacent to the front office. It provides low-water landscaping interest and is also a demonstration garden where students and parents can learn about the characteristics of California native plants suitable for the central valley. This area and the Herbsense garden are on automatic drip irrigation systems. The two garden areas were designed by UCD Landscape Design undergraduate, Duy Tran.

Herbsense Garden: This large landscaped area in front of the school combines art, nature and plants that students can taste, touch and smell.  Herbs and perennials surround a shaded seating area where classes can gather or where parents can sit.  Mosaics made by NDE students under the guidance of Donna Billick adorn the walls surrounding the garden.

Garden Sheds: A smaller shed near the Science Garden boxes provides easy access to tools and small supplies that will be used in the boxes.  A larger, walk-in Tuff shed holds bulkier tools and supplies. Tools are often moved between the two sheds depending on lesson needs.

Keep checking back as we update the site. More information and photos to be coming soon.