Semester 1 of the 2025-2026 school year was a time of tremendous growth and shifts for JLA. New teachers, new classes, and new policies were just some examples of what changed since we all went home for summer last year. We all noticed when Youtube was banned, right? The JLA of today is not the JLA of tomorrow, and it’s that ability to shift, grow, and redefine ourselves that characterizes us. One facet of JLA, I believe, has gone through the most shocking revitalizations and modifications, and is therefore a perfect representative of how we epitomize rebirth. I’m of course talking about our garden, or the Habi Center.
Those who frequented the garden last year know that it was in a state of general dilapidation. It’s understandable why that was; there wasn’t a set group of people tasked with upkeep. This year, that thankfully changed. At our club fair, a brand new club was proposed. The Eco-Club, a group devoting their time to the upkeep of our beautiful world. One of its many environmentally focused goals was to give the JLA garden a needed fresh start with new soil, new seeds, and new methods. Propitiously, the club proposal was accepted and the Eco-Club was officially founded.
Members of the Eco-Club worked for many an Option 9 to sprout seeds, raise soil fertility, plant seedlings, and all things necessary for a healthy garden. Some JLA moms helped to remove the many weeds and overgrown plants in the raised beds. The original depleted dirt was removed and replaced with aerated, nutrient rich soil. Seeds were sown with precision, taking care to prioritize each species’ needs. Every species of flora was carefully considered for its specific benefits. For example, mint and calendula each have pest repelling properties, but mint relies on its unsavory menthol, while calendula operates as a trap crop (attracting pests like aphids to itself rather than edible plants around it).
One of the Eco-Club’s specific priorities was to plant a garden with a healthy balance of pollinator plants and edibles. This was integral, as having a healthy pollinator population ensures seed and fruit growth. Flowers and butterfly host plants attract bees, butterflies, and other insects, and those organisms go on to pollinate species such as tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and any other flowering produce.
Their hard work has paid off. If you walk through the garden today, you will notice ripening tomatoes and peppers, garden beds bursting with vibrant greens, flowers of all colors, and happy bees and butterflies flitting around. The shift from the garden of yore is eye-catching, to say the least.
As semester 2 gains momentum, the Eco-Club has many new plans. These range from advocating for native plants in the JLA landscaping to introducing new heat-resistant tomato species. One auspicious opportunity the Eco-Club was offered is a partnership with Pelican Harbor Seabird Station. Devoted to the recuperation and release of seabirds, the Pelican Harbor Seabird Station is an important conservation organization that has rescued over 47,000 seabirds and other native animals. JLA has been granted the honor of serving as a pre-release sanctuary to provide final care for animals before they are released back into the wild. The Eco-Club is appreciative and excited for this opportun
