Sunnyside Environmental School

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Community Garden

Aaron's Farewell

Hello everyone,

The last year+ working within the Sunnyside School Community has been quite a positive experience. Although many aspects of the work have been far more challenging than I ever would have imagined, I have enjoyed every precious minute that I've spent with your children in the garden, kitchen, classroom and at Jean's Farm. Thank you for being there to support me time after time, and thank you even more for committing so much of your time and funds to your/our children's education. I don't think I've ever felt as appreciated by adults in my life as I did last spring at the fundraising event when you collectively bid to raise the funds for this year's garden education. It has given me much pause as I considered the options that were laid out to me over the past few weeks.

With many mixed emotions I will be leaving my position as Sustainability Coordinator at SES to pursue an education in Meat and Cheese curing in Northern Italy. A few different factors make this a once-in-a-life-time opportunity that I can't pass up. I will leave Portland in 10 days and plan on returning in July 2010. I've talked with all the kids from 3rd-8th grade, but couldn't pull myself together to look the little ones in the face and tell them their Farmer Aaron is leaving. Luckily they'll probably be the first to forget.

Thank you all again for your constant stream of smiles, words of appreciation and support, and help whenever I was in need. I will dearly miss my place in the SES family and I will hold you all in my thoughts while I'm away. Please forgive me for any of the mess that leaving in the middle of the year may have caused.

Take care,

Aaron

About the Community Garden

The Sunnyside gardens feature a wide variety of native, ornamental and edible species, including vegetable beds designated for each grade. The gardens serve as outdoor learning environments throughout the year, integrating a variety of academic subjects including art, math, history, social sciences, and natural sciences.