LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Campo Troops Rally to Repair to Garden


Spencer Spiering, Marisa Monopli and Shelby Bocks repaint signage damaged by vandalism at the Campolindo High School garden. Photos Chris Lavin

A stealthy nighttime melee caused by vandals at the school garden at Campolindo High School inspired some dedicated students to pull out their cell phones and summon help to repair benches, signs, plants and more this month.

"It was probably drunk people," said Chloe Bouchy. "It's pretty distressing."

A group of unknown people raided the area, breaking benches in half, smashing tables, tearing down signs and tearing up plants. The next day Bouchy started rallying the troops, who appeared almost immediately. The team effort had students pairing up, some with brushes and paint, others with power drills and hammers, and got to work. Most are (or were) members of the poultry or garden clubs - but many had already graduated, and are preparing to head off to college next month.

"They pulled all this together themselves," said science teacher Patrick Wildermuth as he disentangled a hose.

Some of the students got interested in gardening through Global Student Exchange, an organization that shepherded them to Nicaragua to visit small villages and farms. That created the spark in Bouchy.

"I'm very into it," she said. It was the first time she realized how something as simple as a seed can be miraculous. "The idea that a tiny seed" - she grabbed a 4-foot-high tomato plant and shook it - "can flourish into something like this is simply amazing."

When asked if he was surprised that graduated seniors were still pitching in at school, Wildermuth immediately shook his head. "My students are pretty amazing," he said.