As parents and schools prepare for the next year of learning, Big Creek Lumber has announced they will offer a redwood garden bed grant program for a fourth year. This benefits schools in the communities in which Big Creek does business. Ten garden bed kits will be awarded and delivered to recipient schools.
Over the years Big Creek Lumber has donated hundreds of garden beds to schools and is happy to continue the tradition. Marketing Manager Michelle Overbeck shared, “Since we’ve started our new grant program, we have donated 30 garden bed kits to schools. The feeling of the excitement of the students and staff when we deliver the donations is the most fulfilling part of my job. These students will get to learn carpentry, math, how to grow food and about healthy eating through this program. It is an honor to carry on a tradition of donating garden beds to our communities.”
Applications are available on their website; bigcreeklumber.com under “About” and on the drop down menu, select “Building our Communities” or can be picked up at any of their five retail lumber yards in Atwater, Half Moon Bay, Paso Robles, Santa Cruz and Watsonville. Last year ten schools were awarded garden grants including: Thomas Olaeta Elementary School, Luther Burbank Elementary School, Coastside Children’s Programs, Pescadero Elementary School, Virginia Peterson Elementary School, Del Mar Elementary School, Gault Elementary School, Happy Valley Elementary School, Caesar Chavez Middle School and E.A. Hall Middle School. Schools are encouraged to apply every year and recipient schools may apply again two years later.
Completed applications must be returned to a Big Creek Lumber yard in person by Wednesday, October 31st. All eligible schools will be entered in a drawing and two schools will be selected in the vicinity of each yard at random. The kits will be delivered in the early spring to the schools so they can get their gardens planted for spring.