New Year, Fresh Look at Our Farm Lab Site
New Straw Bales for Farm Lab Student Seating
NEW YEAR, FRESH LOOK AT PETTY RANCH
Our incredible staff and volunteers kicked off 2026 with an amazing collective effort on January 19th transforming the Farm Lab site and setting the tone for a fantastic year ahead!
We replaced the straw bales in our introduction area for Farm Lab programs. These heavy bales (each weighing 50–75 pounds!) are swapped out annually, and thanks to everyone's hard work, the job was miraculously completed in just a couple of hours. The old bales weren't wasted — they found new life as mulch around our nearby fig and avocado trees.
We also tackled the ongoing (and always necessary!) task of mulching:
A fresh layer of wood mulch now surrounds our vermicompost area, creating a clean, weed-free space where students can safely meet and handle our thousands of hardworking worms.
Additional mulch was added to several learning stations, helping keep those persistent (but harmless and itchy!) nettles at bay — making the area much more comfortable for both students and staff.
And that's not all! Together, we harvested, trimmed, fed, and planted in several garden boxes — the places we share with our students and volunteers for picking and tasting freshly grown, seasonal herbs and vegetables.
We're deeply grateful for every helping hand and thrilled with the fresh, welcoming look that resulted from your efforts. Thank you for making Petty Ranch shine!
Looking for Opportunities to Volunteer With Us?
Our next monthly volunteer opportunity is scheduled for Thursday afternoon, February 19th at Petty Ranch from 2:00 to 4:30 PM.
To Register, click the link here.
For first time volunteers, you may fill out a waiver form here.
Questions? Feel free to contact Bobbi.
Let's keep the momentum going and make 2026 another amazing year for our students, community, and our educational sites. 🌿