Washington High School Opens Husky Gardens with Support from Community Partners

The successful renovation of Washington High School’s Husky Gardens was celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony on August 13.

WHS Principal Bob Moran presided over the event, which was attended by many school staff, student leadership, Fremont Unified School District leadership including Superintendent Erik Burmeister, and community partners who made the transformation of the garden possible.

“The reconstruction of the Husky Garden began prior to 2020 and was completed this summer,” said Moran. “It was a collective effort of many teachers, students, programs, volunteers, and industry partners.”

The Home Depot became a key partner in the recent overhaul of Husky Gardens when its corporate offices responded to a request to help make the garden – which is in the heart of the WHS campus bounded by a row of lockers and a row of classrooms on either side – a place for instruction, relaxation, and all manner of growth.

The request came from Dr. Lisa-Marie Burns – a WHS teacher, department chair, and program coordinator – who coordinated the garden’s upkeep and use in recent years, and oversaw the garden’s revitalization after the pandemic left it untended and overgrown. She saw the community-focused work The Home Depot was supporting in neighborhoods across the country, and she saw an opportunity.

“I was watching TV over winter break and saw the new Home Depot commercial promoting their new 'Path to Pro' campaign - and as a CTE person it resonated with me,” said Burns. “I wanted to spin off it for a FUSD project and thought what the heck? I'll email their corporate offices and see if anyone responds.”

The Home Depot Corporation connected Burns to its Bay Area leadership and Lucretia Heath, Regional Pro Account Sales Manager for The Home Depot. Heath visited the site in early 2024 to meet with Burns and other WHS educators to explore the potential of the space and how The Home Depot could help the school reach its goals.

Heath helped Burns with initial planning and applying for a $10,000 grant to purchase supplies from The Home Depot to complete the project. Beyond providing funding for supplies, The Home Depot also supported the overall design and provided an incredible crew from the Fremont and Newark stores that helped deliver and install materials, improve and beautify the garden, and haul away waste.

Over many years, many Washington High School educators and students have contributed to efforts to build and maintain the garden. Students and staff in Special Education and AVID created and nurtured plants and aesthetic features throughout the garden over many years, and partnered with the Boy Scouts of America to construct planter boxes and benches. The school’s MultiMedia Art Academy (MMAA) alumni started a ‘living mural’ in 2022 that will continue to grow with the garden.

Ceramics teacher Mr. Jake Rodenkirk and his students provided a Husky solar fountain for the garden, plus ollas that slowly release water to the plants - this is in addition to a drip irrigation system.

Mr. Steve Olson from Centerville Middle School joined the effort to relaunch the Husky Garden by designing and building a beautiful redwood sign that hangs outside its entrance. Swagelok Northern California provided funding for this sign, and other garden tools.

Burns is continuing her work to coordinate upkeep of the garden by students and colleagues through a Garden Committee. Farmers’ Market Fridays will be scheduled soon, and the space is open now as a productive and tranquil place for WHS students and staff.

As Moran proclaimed at the ribbon cutting: “Husky Gardens is officially open!”