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Anacapa Student Interns Plant the Future of Santa Barbara Presidio


Lauren, Wes, Pica, and Piero starting flats of beans from seeds grown in the Presidio Heritage Garden. Photo by Mike Imwalle.

Lauren, Wes, Pica, and Piero starting flats of beans from seeds grown in the Presidio Heritage Garden. Photo by Mike Imwalle.


Hello, we are Piero Trujillo, Weston Izuno, Lauren Sloan and Pica Riddle, the new Presidio Heritage Garden Interns from the Anacapa School . We started our  adventure on September 15th, with a tour of the gardens. Mike Imwalle, archaeologist, showed us the ropes, where we learned how to plant and water fruits and vegetables, and feed and water the chickens.


Pica spreading Mulch during the United Way Day of Caring. Photo by Anne Petersen.

Pica spreading Mulch during the United Way Day of Caring. Photo by Anne Petersen.


The weekend after we started, the United Way Day of Caring volunteers cleared the gardens of old plants and weeds, so that we could plant new ones for the fall. Since we started, we have planted Fava beans, Christmas Lima beans, green beans, artichokes, carrots, radishes, broccoli, onions, wheat, celery, and herbs.


Mike and Ann holding Belle and Westina. Photo by Brittany Sundberg.

Mike and Ann holding Belle and Westina. Photo by Brittany Sundberg.


The Santa Barbara Presidio produces phenomenal produce. Every day we enjoy fresh juicy oranges. The six chickens, Belle, Stacy, Pica, Shakira, Josefina, and Westina, started laying wonderful tasty eggs. Even the under-ripe watermelon we tasted was better than the store bought ones. Sadly we did not get to enjoy the biggest, ripest watermelon because it was stolen. All that was left, were the gruesome remains of an eaten water melon on the steps of the Presidio. At least someone got to eat it.

The six lovely hens of the Presidio, are warmly rewarded for their egg laying efforts with yummy treats. The girls go crazy over dried worms and over-ripe fruit from the garden. We often feed them watermelon, strawberries, tomatoes, figs, and pomegranates.


Piero, Pica, Lauren, and Weston threshing White Sonora Wheat. Photo by Mike Imwalle.

Piero, Pica, Lauren, and Weston threshing White Sonora Wheat. Photo by Mike Imwalle.


Mike, everyone’s favorite teddy bear, is very welcoming. He never gets frustrated with our sometimes slow work ethic and even lets us play with the sticky notes in his office. Mike truly cares about his job and the Presidio. We have so much fun as interns, that even when Pica falls in a cactus, she still wants to come back.

The Presidio Heritage Garden Interns will keep planting through the fall season.   Stop by and see what’s blooming! 

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