Just off Maze Boulevard in Modesto, children wander between garden beds while community members work to prepare a space that many hope will become a cornerstone of healthy living.
The Modesto Children’s Garden, a nonprofit organization focused on disease prevention and gardening education, was founded in 2020 on a plot of land in north Modesto. But then changes at its original Pelandale Avenue location forced a move.
So in May it reopened to the public at its new location in front of St. Stanislaus Catholic Church.
Executive Director Jessica Coleman said the new site and renovations make the garden safer and more accessible for children and their families.
“Being able to relocate here to this five-acre campus has been a dream come true,” Coleman said.
The garden was first launched six years ago in partnership with the University of the Pacific, American Heart Association and other organizations with a mission to support the health and well-being of Modesto families.
The work is a continuation of Coleman’s mission as founder of the now defunct Color the Skies, a hot air balloon and kite festival that used to be held in Ripon and raised funds for Valley Children’s Hospital.
The garden’s move from its Pelandale location behind the Valley Children’s Hospital specialty clinic was needed because the land is being developed.
Coleman said when members of the Gallo family heard about her organization’s need for a new site, they donated the two parcels adjacent to St. Stanislaus Catholic Church. Now the garden has seven acres of terrain in close proximity to Central Catholic High School, St. Stanislaus School, Mark Twain Junior High and Franklin Elementary.
The new setting allow more children to gain hands-on learning about gardening and nutrition, Coleman said.
“We are in West Modesto, where there’s a lot of need for safe green spaces,” she said. “This is really considered a food desert in our city. There’s not a lot of opportunities for folks to get really fresh produce.”
The new location has already welcomed some preschoolers from St. Stanislaus for the first school field trip to the garden, via a pathway they created connecting the two sites.
The garden is open for hands-on gardening and exploration from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. every Thursday. Other community events and volunteer opportunities are posted on the group’s Facebook page regularly.
Coleman said the garden is also developing a curriculum for homeschooled students and visiting classes, with seasonal activities centered around outdoor education. Recently the garden hosted a children’s program where kids learned to make smoothies with the garden’s fresh produce.
In the days leading up to the garden’s grand opening May 16, community members spent hours planting new crops, weeding the garden beds, and helping to set up the shade structure.
Volunteer Henry Madsen was among those getting the garden in shape.
“It’s a great way to help out and support the children who come here to learn how food is grown and how to incorporate it within their own lives to build a healthier diet,” he said.
Among the many new developments at the Children’s Garden is the addition of a historic play structure from Beard Brook Park. The structure, which Coleman named “Dino Bones,” has a rich history in Modesto since 1960. Coleman says the equipment was repainted and sandblasted upon arrival, restoring it to a like-new condition.
“It’s so abstract, but the kids love it,” she said.
The striking white structure now sits amid the garden’s other attractions, including large metal animal sculptures, a mural, picnic tables and shade structures.
The other main attraction, of course, are the rows of crops ranging from seasonal vegetables such as carrots, pumpkin, tomatoes, radishes, artichokes and squash. These crops also share spaces with many herbs and leafy greens including collared greens, spinach, kale, red and green cabbage and thyme. Fruit-bearing plants can also be found on this land, from strawberries to grapes and more.
Coleman said starting the garden has ignited something unexpected in her.
“Sometimes passion finds you,” said Coleman. “I didn’t know that I would love doing this until I started doing this.”
Her goal is to make the garden feel welcoming and accessible to all, and encourages everyone to visit and experience it firsthand.
“Go get a bag and harvest whatever you’d like,” she said. “I feel like we need one of these in every part of Modesto.”
Natalie Mejia is a graduate of Stanislaus State and an intern with The Modesto Focus.