Pacific Beach Middle School’s (PBMS) theme is “International Waters,” and the school’s close proximity to the ocean has yielded many opportunities for students to learn how the local ecology is connected to the global environment. This summer, that connection will become even stronger as plans to build an ocean-friendly garden on campus move closer to completion. “We are so close to the ocean. It’s something that we draw off of all the time,” said Jennifer Sims, PBMS’s International Baccalaureate program coordinator, who is helping lead the project. “This really is going to continue with that ocean theme and bring it to life for the students so they can see the connection with landscaping and gardening and how it really does affect the ocean and how everything is interconnected.” The garden, named “Waves of Green” by students, will be built according to principles established by the Surfrider Foundation, a nonprofit organization that promotes clean oceans and beaches. According to the Surfrider website, traditional gardening methods can lead to increased water runoff, as well as elevated levels of pollutants and pesticides in that water, which flows into storm drains and, ultimately, into the ocean. In order to mitigate the negative effects that runoff can have, Surfrider has established CPR© guidelines, which champion conservation, permeability and retention in gardening. The tenets of CPR© include choosing plants that don’t need much water, using permeable materials in the landscaping and installing devices that will allow water to drain into underground aquifers, according to the website. The garden’s designer, Carol Fuller, used these principles in her initial design and — in keeping with the school’s water-centric theme — created a layout that resembles the ripples that occur when something hits the surface of water, Sims said. Each of the “ripples” in the garden will be planted with seasonal organic vegetables or native, low-water varietals. Fuller, a Cuyamaca College landscape design student, became familiar with water-wise gardening principles while working at Cuyamaca’s Water Conservation Garden, Sims said. San Diego Unified School District recently approved the design plans, and a team of parents, staff and volunteers will be working this summer to install the hardscaping and secure grants for supplies, worm and composting bins, plants and a drip irrigation system, Sims said. The team is aiming to have the garden ready for planting in October, but that schedule hinges on the installation of the irrigation system. A student-lead science club will be responsible for maintaining the plants throughout the year, in partnership with The Evergreen Project, Sims said. That club will also look for new ways to make the garden more sustainable, including working with food services to collect lunchtime waste to use for composting. The garden will also become part of the school’s curriculum, particularly in seventh grade when students learn about life sciences and need to make observations of local flora and fauna. The Pacific Beach Women’s Club and the Pacific Beach Kiwanis have already donated some garden tools, but the partnership is still looking for gently worn, student-friendly hand tools, rakes, shovels and other gardening implements, new lifeguard hats and gloves and monetary contributions. Readers interested in making a donation can contact Jennifer Sims at [email protected] or by calling (858) 273-9070, ext. 2357.