A lumber truck pulled up to the Santa Rosa Academic Academy campus Tuesday morning, loaded with redwood planks, shovels and bagged dirt.
Atascadero Elementary School was one of ten schools to win a garden bed grant from Big Creek Lumber for the 2021-2022 school year.
“We get the wood material for [the garden beds]including the soil for the raised beds and all the materials to put the beds together, so we can expand our garden,” said Katie Martin, PTA president at Santa Rosa Academic Academy.
Martin, along with Santa Rosa Academy Director Tim Sobraske, completed the application with Big Creek Lumber in the fall of 2021.
The California-based company, which has a location in Paso Robles, launched the grant program in 2016 as part of its 70th anniversary celebration. Now in its sixth year, the program offers grants for garden supplies to local schools.
Donated supplies include durable redwood planks from Big Creek Lumber.
“One of the best things we can do year-round in the community is these garden bed grants,” Michelle Webb, marketing manager for Big Creek Lumber, told KSBY. “We show up at a school with the Big Creek Lumber truck, and the kids help unload the goods. It’s so great to see their enthusiasm.”
The program helps students become familiar with the growing process.
“Kids learn where their vegetables come from,” Webb said. “They’re learning about healthy eating. They’re doing math when they’re building the flowerbeds. They’re learning about construction. And it’s a really fun hands-on activity for kids.”
After Tuesday’s shutdown in Atascadero, Big Creek Lumber dropped off supplies at Templeton Middle School.
