Transition House garden day brings helpers from Falls Career High School

By Emily Hilley-Sierzchula

Sweaty T-shirts and dirty work gloves were in ample supply at the Transition House garden Tuesday, Sept. 30. Eight Falls Career High School students joined their English teacher Michael Saenz and Transition House students to move dirt, plant trees and harvest tomatoes. “I hope all this work will make them enjoy being in English class more,” Saenz said with a smile. “I think they’re enjoying a good, hard day of work, plus helping the community is a good way to spend the day. These are good people out here.”

Several students used the word “rewarding” to describe their experience Tuesday, despite the heat and mosquitos.

Falls Career students have earned the respect of the Master Gardeners who help run the garden days at Transition House. “They’re always hard workers,” said Donna Maier, president of the Highland Lakes Master Gardeners Association.

Saenz has little difficulty finding Falls Career students to pitch in. “I have to actually turn students away who want to come out here, even though it’s harder work than some of the other volunteer projects we do,” Saenz said.

Students at Falls Career HS are required to do six hours of community service projects.

“We come here two or three times a year, and whenever they call us,” Saenz said. “They like us because it doesn’t take an act of Congress to get us out here.”

Both Transition House and Falls Career students learn from Master Gardeners on site. “They see that gardening is doable, and that it’s not just something other people do,” Saenz said.

One of the students took a break from looking for squash ready to be picked. “It’s kind of cool how they make their garden organic,” said Brooke Topoleski, 18. “Plus they learn good eating habits.”

The Master Gardeners on site seemed to be having more fun than anyone. “We always say we’re here as advisers and to guide things along, but we always end up working,” said Maier, who has been part of the garden project since it started three years ago. She was enthused about the Transition House garden winning first prize at the Texas Master Gardeners Association state conference last week.

“To be recognized at the state level means we have a good project,” she said. She looked fondly at a tree they planted out in front of the house years ago. “It’s rewarding to see this tree four times bigger than it was when we planted it.”

More rewarding, however, is what Maier termed “the cooperative nature” of the project. “We’re here to do more than help a group learn about gardening,” she said.

For more on the Transition House program and photos of the garden day, see Friday's Highlander.