When Coronado Teen and Environmental Librarian, Tara Davies, said she wanted to start an Emerald Keepers Club at Coronado Middle School, her fellow board members were ecstatic. The once beautiful garden, an Eagle Scout project by Cole Mullins, had fallen into disrepair during the pandemic. Revitalizing the garden began with weeding, weeding, and more weeding. The walkways are still overgrown with weeds after 30 volunteers worked hours to remove weeds from the four planter beds before school began. Most notably the old plastic tool shed and table were falling apart (the shed had aged and fell repeatedly during storms or strong wind gusts).
“It was a hazard,” said Davies who worried it might fall on a student.
That is when Larry Cox and Dan’l Steward, spouses of Emerald Keepers, stepped in. The two evaluated the shed and table. Emerald Keepers purchased supplies and Larry and Dan’l went to work. Dan’l took the lead on the new tabletop. He broke out his table-saw and created new planks carefully notched to fit the table. He then drilled and screwed each piece into place. He stained the entire table and put up a new sunshade reinforced with a strip of stained wood drilled into the frame top. Then flower and succulent baskets were hung.
Meanwhile, Larry singlehandedly assembled and sealed the shed at his home. He ordered uprights and cement to brace the shed so it would remain upright during storms. Each piece was fashioned to perfection. Dan’l dug post holes, and together they poured the concrete, placed the uprights making sure everything was level. Minor adjustments followed to ensure the shed was ready for student use.
CMS student and Emerald Keeper Club member Azalea Bowen was asked what she thought of the newly renovated garden workspace. She enthusiastically replied, “The garden looks amazing! The new shed looks so much better than the one we started with at first, and the worktable is wonderful!”
Larry and Dan’l together put in over 20 hours over several weekends and weekdays… a true labor of love going above and beyond to do the job right. Spouses of Ginger Cox and Amy Steward--both Emerald Keepers Board members-- the two selflessly support their families and their activities. Their volunteerism to help Emerald Keepers create a beautiful, safe, organized space for students is why they are Emerald Keepers of the Month for September.
Congratulations, Larry Cox and Dan’l Steward, for giving of your time and talent. CMS Emerald Keepers Club, Coronado Middle School, and Emerald Keepers thank you!
The CMS Emerald Keepers garden will foster community among students and provide food for the Imperial Beach Food Pantry – the latter a collaborative effort with the Rotary Club of Coronado that delivers delicious vegetables.
