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Students and staff pitch Turtle Creek community garden to board as hands‑on CTE and food‑security project
Summary
School psychologist Carly Schmidt and FFA students presented a proposal to create community garden beds at Turtle Creek, proposing partnerships with local nonprofits, year‑one costs and a plan to assign beds to families in need; presenters said grants and local partners could fund initial construction and ongoing support.
Carly Schmidt, a school psychologist for Ralston Public Schools, and student FFA members outlined a community garden and adopt‑a‑bed proposal at Turtle Creek during the March 24 board meeting.
Schmidt said the project began as a social‑justice practicum and expanded into a proposal to convert an existing Turtle Creek planting bed near the baseball fields into an expanded community garden. The project would provide CTE (career and technical education) and applied learning opportunities for high‑school students, food for families in need, and community service and volunteer hours.
Key project elements - Site: Turtle Creek bed near the new baseball fields (walking distance from Ralston High School). - Model: Families apply to adopt a raised bed for one year; successful families would be trained and could grow produce for household use, with overflow produce available to local food banks or the district food pantry. - Partners: Presenters cited Saint Leo’s (community garden experience), BigGarden (nonprofit support and potential seed funding), Douglas County Farm Bureau and the local public library (seed library donations). - Year‑one costs and funding: Presenters listed several small grants as targets and said some partners had pledged in‑kind donations (mulch, seedlings, volunteer labor). Becklin (high‑school woodshop) offered to build beds and structures with students.
Operational issues discussed Presenters and board members discussed water access and maintenance: Schmidt said one daytime watering run required roughly 600 gallons and that access to a closer water hookup would reduce staff time. Staff also raised theft concerns; presenters proposed signage, a combination of sponsor beds and some open beds for passersby to reduce theft pressure.
Why it matters: Schmidt framed the garden as both a classroom and community resource that addresses local food‑access gaps. She cited a USDA report used in their planning and connected the garden to social‑emotional learning, leadership and hands‑on CTE experience for students.
Direct quote from presentation: “Ralston is considered a food desert…and what that statistic comes from, I have a USDA report up there…they take average income… the majority of them cannot walk within a mile to get fresh fruit.” — Carly Schmidt, school psychologist.
Next steps Project leaders asked the board for general support and permission to pursue grants and partnerships; several board members and staff offered follow‑up connections (extension office, BigGarden and other local partners). Presenters said they would apply for grants due in May and hoped to pilot workshops in January and break ground in fall of the next school year.
Ending Board members praised the community and educational value of the proposal and offered district staff help connecting to potential grantors and volunteers; presenters will return with grant applications and a refined budget if they obtain district permission to pursue external funding.
