CORONA DEL MAR TODAY

Lincoln Dedicates Organic Garden

Lincoln Elementary School honored a little girl who wanted more than anything to be a farmer, dedicating an all-organic garden today in her memory.

The entire student body watched as Joe Sachen used a pair of oversized scissors to cut the ribbon and open the garden, which is near the school’s front office in a raised area surrounded by a cozy blue and brown painted fence. The garden is planted with organic herbs and fruits and veggies, and everything was donated and installed by the Savannah’s Organic Ranch organization.

Savannah Sachen was 8 years old when she died of a rare heart tumor in 2007.

“It was the day after she passed that we started the charity,” said co-chairman Bob Rieden, who also is a neighbor and family friend.

Savannah loved gardening and valued organic food, so a gardening charity in her honor seemed fitting, her father said. The organization collects donations from businesses including Home Depot, plus cash donations, to create the gardens.

Lincoln’s garden is the fifth the group has completed. Workers spent a long rainy weekend building it, and crews from the organization will return every other week to check on it.

Students will help, and they will get to sample the bounty from its beds: rosemary, cauliflower, parsley and more.

“They will love it,” Rieden said. “The kids get protective of their gardens, and they’ll make sure it’s taken care of.”