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Projects

Middle School Alley Improvement Project Ideas:

Tree(s):  Lets get a tree to add to the native plant garden.  They should go in one or all of the following 3 places:  the middle of the existing garden (in the bare spot); in the rock circle against the fence next to the redwood benches; or in the rock-bound planter that is to the east (?) of the waterfall.  Contributors (so far) are Tony Sindelar, Moira Edelman, Andee Isaacs, Quyen Voung, Crystal Speed, Allysson McDonald (?), Moira Edelman.  Student helpers (volunteered by parents are Khoi, Carter, Jacob, Ian)

Fence Plants:  Along the back of the chain-link fence irrigation pipe installed to provide water for vines and other plants that we put in every few feet along the fence.  

Redwood Benches and Archway/Arbor:  Benches, similar to the ones that were installed by room 26 could be built and installed in other areas such as the corner of room 20 or under the tree behind the library.  Archways or arbors could cover the benches.

Front Area Beautification:  Big project.  The area where the janitor container used to be has huge potential for improvement.  It should be an inviting and functional area.

A Water Feature:  A "pond-less waterfall", possibly powered by a solar panel located by the California Native Plant garden near the center of the alley.   Majority of the cost of this project goes towards the liner, the boulders, and the stream bed rocks.  When I built one of these at my house it cost about $300 for materials, some of which I have left over and would like to donate.  Peninsula Building Materials has generously donated some of the rocks in March.
April 3 Workday:
  1. Find access box for underground wires (done)
  2. Define layout of mountain and remove tanbark (done)
  3. Cut cage and roll boulders to waterfall (done)
  4. Dig boulders into perimeter position (done)
  5. Move in dirt and build mountain bounded by rocks (done)
  6. Build and shape mountain with dirt and retaining rocks (in process)
  7. Dig pit for plastic pond (in process)
  8. Buy kidney-shaped plastic pond from Home Depot
  9. Buy 10' x 20' .45ml liner from Tse Koi in San Jose
  10. Buy 8 to 10 flat moss-rocks from Peninsula Building Materials
  11. Buy Becket 3600 gph AC pump
  12. Fit plastic pond and liner into position
  13. Connect pump to power (inside pipe)
  14. Pump plumbing (flex tube to top of hill)
  15. Place rocks into streambed
Special Thanks To:



Waterfall Construction





 





































































Interlocking Pavers to Replace Tanbark:  I helped to build some large sections of patio when I was at Kennedy Middle School.  This page shows the process.  Perhaps parents who help and/or donate can get names engraved onto a paver.  If the school ever moves, the pavers can go with it.
Pacific Interlocking Paverstone in Cupertino gave us a price break on the pavers and the baserock was the majority of the cost.  This is a good muscle-building project.