Humming with organic activity

Tomatoes, zucchini, cauliflower and grapes were just a few of the organic plants that students at Abraham Lincoln Elementary School placed into the soil of the campus’ new organic garden Friday.

The garden was the fifth designed and donated by Savannah’s Organic Ranch, a nonprofit that strives to educate children about the importance of growing and eating organic food. Savannah’s Organic Ranch was created in memory and celebration of the life of Savannah Sachen, an elementary school student from Aliso Viejo who died of heart cancer in May 2007.

It was Savannah’s dream to become an organic farmer when she grew up.

Lincoln’s student body, administration, parents, the Sachen family, reporters and members of the Newport Balboa Rotary Club gathered in the campus quad to celebrate the groundbreaking of Savannah’s Organic Garden.

“The garden is important to Lincoln,” said Nick Premer, the student body president. “It’s a great thing to build an organic garden in our quad; that way everybody can see it and enjoy it.”

Nick’s mother, Colleen Premer, who helps head up a Green Team at the school, will help coordinate the maintenance of the garden.

“We hope to get different grades to take care of it each month,” Premer said. “The Green Team will let us know when and what to plant, as well as water and tend to the garden in the summer, when no one else is here.”

The Newport Balboa Rotary Club donated a 24-inch crepe myrtle tree to the project.

“We thought it was very appropriate to donate the tree at the dedication of Savannah’s Garden,” said Bill Hossfield, the director of Club Service. “It’s a living memorial. The spirit of Savannah will live within the tree, and provide shade and inspiration to other students in the school.”

“It’s like a secret garden. It’s a neat place for kids to be,” said Principal Jane Holmes.

She was looking over the garden, which includes a wooden fence, a shade tree with a wrap-around bench underneath, butterfly stakes, herbs, flowers, and the fruit and vegetable plants students had planted a few moments earlier.

Savannah’s parents, Lisa and Joe Sachen, smiled as Lincoln students enjoyed the garden and organic snacks donated by Whole Foods. The Sachens hope to plant five more school gardens this year.

For Lisa Sachen, this garden dedication was special.

“I’ve had a number of special visits from hummingbirds,” Lisa Sachen said.

One of those visits was on her back porch, a few days after Savannah’s death.

“This hummingbird came literally within 6 inches of my nose, and just stayed there, looking at me, and I just felt like it was a special visit,” she said.

During Friday’s dedication of Savannah’s Organic Garden on the Lincoln campus, “A hummingbird landed right on the garden’s tree and sat there the whole time,” Lisa Sachen said. “I believe she knows what we’re doing.”