In June of 2011, we posted about the new community garden being created in a former empty dirt lot between Burbank Senior Artists Colony and Burbank Community Day School. (See post and pictures here.) The project was supported by active collaboration between the students, BSAC seniors, Master’s students from the landscape architecture school at UCLA, Tree People, Master Gardener Sharon Springer, and staff from EngAGE.
In September of this year, Burbank Community Day School celebrated the opening of a brand new kitchen. IKEA generously awarded the school a $10,000 grant during the last school year, allowing for a spacious new counter space, cabinets, new pots and pans, utensils, and appliances, including an oven and refrigerator. (Read the full story here.)
Sharon Springer, Assistant to EngAGE C.O.O. Maureen Kellen-Taylor and a Master Gardener who has been involved since the inception of the community garden, had this to say:
The Burbank Community Day School (BCDS) Garden, Kitchen and Culinary Arts Program underscore the importance of persistence, community collaboration and giving what you have. In the beginning, 2009, there was a weed patch, followed by putting one foot in front of the other to get where we are today. At that time, we weren’t thinking about a kitchen. We wanted a collaborative garden wherein the seniors who lived next door at the Senior Artist Colony apartment community could grow flowers and vegetables alongside the students in an open air, outdoor classroom. One senior wanted a garden for plein air painting.
Every dollar, every pulled weed, planted seed, pruned branch, every donation in kind, every word of encouragement, and show of support have made a difference. From Burbank- Valley Garden Club donating money so the kids could get their food handling licenses, to Aramark donating berets and aprons, we are truly grateful for everything.
The garden and kitchen open up opportunities that the students never knew existed. There are, and have been young artists, botanists, entomologists, contractors, grammarians (really!) and now budding chefs and nutritionists.
The Burbank-Valley Garden Club told Chris, the Principal, “You know, these are our kids now.
This is truly a great community success story!
[Mission of BCDS: “Community Day School is designed to meet the needs of students in grades 7-12 who are having difficulties with behavior, attendance, and/or grades, or breached the Burbank Unified District Code of Conduct. In a supportive and nurturing atmosphere, we hope to encourage the students to assume responsibility for their own actions. Our goal is to help every individual here overcome their problems and return to comprehensive school.”]
In the garden surrounded by sunflowers, kale, tomatoes and eggplants.
Teddi contemplating, “What next?”
George among the kale, tomatoes, hollyhocks and sunflowers.
Students preparing for the appreciation luncheon.
Students who prepared the appreciation luncheon.
(left to right) Chris Krohn – Principal Burbank Community Day School
Deborah Owen – seated – Volunteer chef instructor to the students
Wally Owens – Community member
Teddi Shattuck – BSAC resident, artist, garden volunteer and mentor to the students
Sharon Springer – UCCE Master Gardener, EngAGE Executive Assistant
Pat Heydon – Secretary Burbank-Valley Garden Club
Rose Marie Wineland – President Burbank-Valley Garden Club
Kit Harper – front – BSAC resident, poet, garden volunteer & mentor to the students
Susan Law – Vice President Burbank-Valley Garden Club
Ray Law – Historian Burbank Valley Garden Club
Doug Wiskow – front – Garden Volunteer
Steve Ferguson – School Board Member BUSD
Pam & Larry Black – sister-in-law and brother of Chris Krohn
~ Sharon Springer, Assistant to EngAGE C.O.O. Dr. Maureen Kellen-Taylor
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Our urge to scribble is more significant than we think: “Scribbling and sketching aren’t just practices to idle time away, but a more fundamental indication of our need for language.” Read more in 
