La Paloma students plant seedlings for Save Our Forests

Approximately 420 enthusiastic fourth- and fifth-graders from La Paloma met with retired teacher Jean Dooley and Save Our Forest founder and teacher Jackie Heyneman on Thursday, June 7, to learn how they can help our community and our world. She helped students link the process of photosynthesis to the problem of global warming and suggested that planting more trees is one way to offset the problem of excess carbon dioxide in our air.

The importance of conserving water in the very arid region in which we live was also stressed. Jackie explained that by selecting native plants rather than the more exotic plants, which require more water, we would be helping to beautify the area without the need to use a lot of water.

Finally, the guest speakers talked about the importance of community service and the inherent rewards involved in volunteering your time and energy for the betterment of the community. The students were good listeners, contributed to the discussion and were willing to help the Save Our Forests organization and our community by joining in the work of planting native plants.

After the classroom discussion, teachers led their students out to the planting area, where Save Our Forests volunteers assisted the students in selecting one plant each from a variety of flats of California natives and in planting the seedlings in one-gallon pots.

Volunteers who helped the children with the planting were Howard Sansom, Susan Sullivan, Ellie Ross, Bob Sabus, Ann Richter, Jim Dooley, Ken Graydon, Deanne Mahlum and Jody Williams. These plants will be cared for at the Save Our Forests nursery for the next 8 to 10 months when they will be ready to plant in the ground somewhere in Fallbrook. These same students will be invited at that time to plant the shrubs in the ground.

Thank you to all at La Paloma Elementary School – the principal, secretaries, teachers and students – and the group of volunteers at Save Our Forests for this successful and truly enjoyable combined effort. I know it will reap great benefits for our community!

Jean Dooley