Brand new week, almost to Halloween!
Last week was a success, met with three youth, and completed a day of service through Denver Urban Gardens working at Castro Elementary School.
Service Day on the 19th kicked off with a breakfast potluck YUM!
When we got to service day, we were set into teams, I was the Tree Team Leader. In charge of cutting overgrowth, removing unsightly brush and trimming trees and bushes as an issue of safety had arisen of kids hiding in the trees. My team was about 15 people, mostly AmeriCorps members along with some community members and even some kids that attended Castro. We cut a large amount of brush around the school and in the kindergarten playground winterized the garden making sure it was prim and pretty.  |
| AmeriCorps Tree Team! |
Sheri, the Principal at Castro was walking around checking on volunteers making sure everyone was having fun and keeping their energy up. Darryl, the lead instructor and Ms. Jane instructed the teams of volunteers to make the garden we were installing went smoothly and we learned some new skills.
Teams included concrete, hole digging pole setting, crusher fine and tree team.
Lunchtime arrived and we were greeted by a Congressman who spoke to us about the importance of volunteering and being a part of the community. He grew up down the street from the elementary school so it held a special place in his heart. Also, the wife of Richard T. Castro (who the school was named after) spoke of her gratitude of our work and dedication during the day. It was nice to see such efforts by the community to enhance the lives and education of their youth.
AmeriCorps members were able to mix concrete, spread out crusher fine material, assemble raised planter beds, fill up the beds with dirt, install irrigation in the beds, dig holes for the metal poles that will be a canopy, trim bushes and shrubbery as well as dig up trees and roots, and attach metal leaves to some of the poles. 
Working from 12-6PM, over thirty volunteers were able to install a brand new section of raised beds for gardens that would eventually produce vegetables for the 4th and 5th grade salad bar. Placing in poles and garnishing them with leaves reading "Growth" and "Learning". We accomplished all they had set out for us and Castro Elementary now has a garden set in place for their future educational inclusion of gardening, vegetables, healthy eating and self-sustainability.
Asia and Sam are working with some of the kids to fill up the planters. It was great to hear the excitement of the kids who went to the school, and the eagerness they had to help.
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