Matilija students create a Schoolyard Habitat

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Students learned how to design a schoolyard habitat garden, how to irrigate, choose plants, condition the soil, suppress weeds naturally, and select native species that are drought resistant to plant. A US Fish and Wildlife biologist worked with students for a whole day teaching them about the garden, and volunteers from the community helped students spread mulch and condition the soil. Students went to a nearby native garden and learned about native species. A community volunteer from Ojai Trees talked to the students about the selections of plants and their habitat. Student also went to the Santa Barbara Botanical Gardens to learn about the correct plants for the habitat. Students transforms a dry, lifeless area of the campus into a soil-rich garden. Students also learned about planting with relation to the sun and creating swales for natural water flow and irrigation.