FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LAGUNA BEACH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
CONTACT: ANAKAREN CÁRDENAS UREÑO
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS & ENGAGEMENT
(949) 497-7700 EXT. 5232 | AURENO@LBUSD.ORG

December 5, 2025

Laguna Beach High School students lead the way in sustainability with grand opening of new edible garden

LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. – Laguna Beach High School (LBHS) celebrated the grand opening of its new edible garden on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, a student-driven project born from ideas presented in last year’s Sustain SoCal Challenge. 

The Sustain SoCal Challenge is a yearlong program in which student teams complete a sustainability audit of their campus across five modules (energy, water, waste, transportation, and student health) and develop data-informed solution plans with guidance from industry mentors. Students participating in the challenge’s health module proposed creating a garden to support one of LBUSD’s three major sustainability goals: to improve the health and wellness of students and staff. 

Led by LBHS student Zoe Bartels and funded by a SchoolPower grant, the project aligns with the Laguna Beach Garden Literacy Initiative, which has established garden learning spaces at every school site across the district and advances the district’s sustainability goals by strengthening environmental education and promoting student and staff health and wellness. Orange County Waste and Recycling also supported the effort by contributing soil and compost diverted from landfills.

“Climate action is very important to me, and I am proud to contribute to making the world a better place however I can, like starting the garden. I believe that this new garden will raise awareness about climate action, support students in their instruction and well-being, and be a valuable space that helps make Laguna Beach High School such a special place,” said LBHS junior Zoe Bartels.

Located next to the LBHS administration building, the garden will be maintained through a Junior Master Gardener program that meets on Thursdays during tutorial. Staff will also have access to the space for outdoor activities, counseling sessions, and wellness breaks.

“Honoring Laguna’s longstanding tradition of caring for shared green spaces, this inclusive garden welcomes everyone to learn and be creative with nature as we work toward helping the Earth thrive. In this space, students are empowered with meaningful skills that support the well-being of their communities. I can’t wait to spend time here and am deeply grateful for the partnerships that share this vision. We could not have done it without them,” said LBUSD Coordinator of Environmental Literacy Gloria Harwood.

To learn more about the Laguna Beach Unified School District, visit www.lbusd.org. Stay connected by following @LagunaBeachUSD on Instagram and subscribing to the district newsletter (www.lbusd.org/itsawrap) for the latest news and updates.

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