YouthLaunch has partnered with several non-profit organizations throughout the Austin to share their expertise and to demonstrate the many ways that food can be grown in Central, Texas and serve those in need. To learn about other community food projects in the Austin area, the young gardeners visited a community garden as well as an anti-hunger resource center. A wide variety of volunteers and gardening specialists came to speak to the students, including Tree Folks who came to Webb Middle School to teach the SEEDS students about the importance of tree planting and tree care.
On November 9th, 2006, Paul Domaruk from Tree Folks came to the SEEDS class, bearing trees, shovels, and mulch. He and SEEDS Program Specialist, Max Elliott (pictured) worked with five middle school students to plant two Pomegranate trees, one fig tree, one Asian pear tree, a Mexican lime tree, and a Chinqapin Oak. The students dug the holes, measured the depth and width of the holes, planted the trees, applied mulch around the base of each tree, and thoroughly watered the trees.
After the students finished watering each tree, they reflected on their work and then tasted fruit from each of the fruit trees planted. This allowed the students a chance to get a taste of the fruits of their labor. It also enabled them to beautify their school and to leave a legacy of fruit trees that will feed other students for years to come.