Some Griffith STEAM Magnet Middle School students in East Los Angeles are encouraged to get dirty. They help tend the school’s community garden, growing cilantro and other herbs to sell at local farmer’s markets. Supporters say these student agri-business experiences encourage the local community to support sustainability efforts.

“School gardens help transform healthy food access and improve overall community wellness while also teaching students key science concepts, including eco biodiversity, conservation and sustainable harvesting,” said Jose Miguel Ruiz, founder and CEO of nonprofit CultivaLA. “These gardens are so vital to our communities, providing the space to explore, cultivate and enjoy our natural world.”

With gloves, shovels and rakes in hand, more than 50 volunteers pitched in to help the school’s biodiversity efforts and support sustainable, urban agriculture. Edison International employees and community members removed weeds and invasive plants, prepped the soil for new growth and planted 15 new fruit trees.

More than 40 cubic yards of mulch and compost were lugged to the site and added to the soil to nourish future plant growth. Southern California Edison’s Vegetation Management team lent their expertise and donated all the mulch for the day while CultivaLA was on-site to lead the team in the garden rejuvenation.

Run by Griffith students, known as “The Mindful Gardeners,” and managed by the local community, the dedicated plot provides an important learning environment for biodiversity and sustainability. It gives students and community members a peaceful respite to escape, breathe in the fresh air and reset.

One of the volunteers at the event was Gabriela Rico, the mother of 2023 Edison Scholar Aimee Perales, a James A. Garfield High School graduate and currently a freshman at Yale University.

“Being involved with the garden has allowed students to be more aware of how to take care of the environment and show them careers that are environmentally focused,” Rico said. “It’s a source of pride and joy for the students and the neighborhood, but it has recently been facing challenges due to a lack of funding and helpers. Volunteer days like these, and support from local companies like Edison, revitalize our efforts.”

Edison International also presented a $5,000 check to CultivaLA.

“The financial support from Edison International will help us continue our mission to help transform our communities to healthier and more sustainable environments,” Ruiz said. “We are proud to partner with Edison and the community.”

For more information on Edison International’s giving efforts, visit edison.com/community.