This planting season, our team at the Contra Costa Resource Conservation District (CCRCD) has been busy working with students and staff from Pittsburg Unified School District (PUSD) to bring more native plants to schools. We began partnering with the PUSD Edible Garden Resource Center (part of the PUSD’s Child Nutrition Department) in 2024 to implement pollinator gardens, and it has been rewarding to see how each project has helped students connect with nature. Building on that success, we expanded our efforts this year to establish a new pollinator garden at Parkside Elementary School.

Before planting, our crew of CCRCD staff and California Climate Action Corps Fellows teamed up with PUSD staff to remove weeds, pick up litter, and spread mulch to prepare the site. A few weeks later, we returned with shovels, trays of native plants, and a very enthusiastic group of fifth graders ready to bring the garden to life.

Before getting started, we led a planting demonstration and showed students how to dig holes to the right depth, loosen roots, and water the plants properly. It was amazing to see how quickly they caught on and how engaged they were throughout the process. Many students asked thoughtful questions about pollinators, shared which plants they liked best, and got excited at the sight of worms moving through the soil. Together, we planted a hedgerow kit of 90 native plants provided by the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. By the end of the day, what had started as a bare patch of soil had been transformed into a brand new pollinator garden buzzing with life.
Projects like this show us how native plants can create habitat for pollinators, support biodiversity, and make spaces more resilient and beautiful. And by working alongside students and involving them in the process, they’re able to see their work creating real habitat right next to their playground and gain a deeper understanding of how small actions can make a lasting difference for the environment and their community.

A huge thank you to PUSD, the Xerces Society, and the Parkside fifth graders for bringing so much energy, curiosity, and excitement to the project!