Welcome to the Gecko Garden
Since its official opening on Earth Day of 2022, the Gecko Garden serves to give students concrete applied experiences with life sciences, physical education, teamwork, food sourcing, and much more. Funded by Creekside PSO and entirely volunteer run, the garden hosts school-wide and grade-specific events throughout the year centered around growing and harvesting seasons
The work of the garden is done as much by the students as possible, including the use of shovels, wheelbarrows, gloves and more. Students have planted fruit trees, amended soil, moved mulch and compost, harvested crops, planted seeds, participated in composting, handled worms, used digital microscopes, tasted diverse foods straight from the source, and observed the life cycles of animals such as our large monarch butterfly population.
The Gecko Garden was the recipient of a San Diego Ag in the Classroom grant of $1000 in the spring of 2023, a San Diego Master Gardener grant of $500 in the spring of 2024, a grant of a pallet of native milkweed to support monarch butterfly populations, and countless truckloads of free mulch from Western Tree Service. We have hosted composting workshops by the Solana Center, pollinator presentations by Sager Family Farm, and we have a wonderful relationship with our Master Gardener, David Petit, who helps with much of the work, advising, and sourcing supplies.
If you are interested in volunteering in the garden, please email Logan at CreeksideGeckoGardenPUSD@gmail.com. We are in need of sharp tool use supervisors as well as green thumbs!