Developed in 2009 with City and County Sustainability Grants, our school garden supports gardening projects for students, fresh produce for St. Vincent De Paul, a fall pumpkin harvest, and an inviting space for science experiments. Ever mindful of this precious resource, the garden was designed to maximize water usage on campus. The garden is adjacent to two 5000 gal tanks which receive stormwater run-off from the gym roof and overflow from the gym roof drains into the garden area. This rainwater harvesting practice is utilized for watering plants. It's also not uncommon to see students exploring the garden during recess or lunch!

As the recipient of two generous grants, we were able to make improvements to our storm water retention beds that decorate the grounds. These bioswales are not only beautiful features of our landscape, they also support the recovery of storm water. In combination with the repavement of the parking lot and the re-roofing of the gym and school, we recover two and half million gallons of stormwater per year!

This multi-year project helped us support the transition to energy efficient lighting fixtures. With the help of the Energy Trust of Oregon and a 0% interest loan from Umpqua Bank, LED lighting fixtures are now installed in the main school building and gym. The savings created on our electric bill is used to pay the loan, further demonstrating our commitment to green solutions that benefit the school in numerous ways.

Earth Day at Holy Redeemer is not just a day we learn about the environment but a day of action for our students. Each year we plan age and grade-appropriate lessons, projects, and service work that teach our students to be stewards of our earth. In 2022 the students worked on various upcycling art projects, experimented in Earth Day science labs, collaborated in small groups about practical ideas that positively impact the environment, met with special guest speaker, Jason Holmberg, Executive Director and Co-founder of Wild Me, prepped the school garden, and planted seeds and starts for the summer and fall seasons.