The Magnolia School Garden was started as an enrichment activity in the afterschool program (ASP) in fall 2005. It began in the school courtyard in two 45' x 8' raised flowerbeds. The ASP only uses one of the flowerbeds and it is a cut flower/butterfly garden. The other bed was taken over by a teacher as part of the school's involvement in Heifer International.

In Spring 2006, the ASP obtained approval to garden on an unused strip of ground. In 2007 the City of Oakdale had its first summer camp program and gardening was offered as one of the camps. The children planned the garden layout and watered it by hand daily. About 60 tomato plants from a local nursery were donated,  and the other summer vegetables were grown from seeds. The Modesto Junior College donated 5 fruit trees and various evergreen plants and flowers.

Right now radishes, carrots, turnip greens, sugar snap peas, artichokes and 200 stockton red onions are growing. The school garden will be ready by Fall 2008 for classrooms to utilize the area for outdoor learning.

The picture below shows what the space looked like before the garden. Wow-what a transition!