New School Garden Honors Girl’s Life & Vision September 23, 2009 — Aliso Viejo, CA — Eight-year-old Savannah Sachen dreamed of becoming an organic farmer. Although her life ended much too soon, the Sachen family, friends and community embraced her dream and made it into a reality for the children of Canyon Vista Elementary.
Canyon Vista Elementary is the fourth school to receive an organic garden through Savannah’s Organic Ranch, a non-profit organization founded by Joe and Lisa Sachen. The Ranch continues the legacy of Savannah’s passion for people, animals and nature by educating children and adults alike on the benefits of organic foods and farming to our bodies, our fellow living creatures and our planet.
Students, teachers, volunteers, and donors joined the Sachen family on Thursday morning to dedicate an organic garden at the school in Savannah’s name. In preparation, volunteers along with Savannah’s father, Joe Sachen III, spent ten days in the late summer heat transforming an empty, unused space into a working garden, which now features a mini barn, as well as a fence and windmill.
"The Sachens are one of the strongest families that I know. Watching Savannah and her parents fight her disease with every ounce of their energy has motivated me to help make Savannah’s dream of educating the community on the benefits of organic foods and farming by running an organic farm a reality," said John Kalkanian, Treasurer of Savannah’s Organic Ranch.
The garden at Canyon Vista has special significance because when Savannah was too sick to attend class, Lori Walker, one of the school’s teachers, regularly made home visits to continue the young girl’s studies.
Among the garden’s newly planted roses, lavender and citrus saplings are barrels filled with fertile soil awaiting tiny hands to plant carrot and other vegetable seeds. The garden will become an outdoor classroom for students to learn the merits of organic farming and share in the satisfaction of growing their own fruits and vegetables.
“Building this garden is a labor of love not only for me, but for my friends and the students. Savannah’s gentle kindness and generous heart is all around this place,” said Joe Sachen III.
“Our family not only suffered a great loss, the world also lost a little girl with great plans to make it a better and healthier place. Her dream is worthy of fulfilling for the sake of all children,” said Lisa Sachen.
About Savannah’s Organic Ranch
Savannah’s Organic Ranch is a 501(c)(3) for public benefit corporation whose mission is inspired by Savannah Lee Sachen’s belief that eating an organic diet has tremendous health benefits, and is a sustainable environmentally friendly lifestyle. While the long-term goal is to establish a large-scale organic farm serving local communities, building community gardens helps us create an impact today by building organic gardens and implementing organic gardening education for children. Our purpose is solely educational and charitable. Savannah’s Organic Ranch plans to install more organic gardens in schools and eventually open an organic farmer’s market. For more information, please visit www.savannahsorganicranch.org. For an application for an organic garden at your school, please email info@savannahsorganicranch.org.
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