ENCINITAS — By Shelby Taylor

ENCINITAS — It is California logic; too much sun equals a speedy retreat to the beach. However, even with the heat wave coursing through San Diego, junior Ariel Vieweg and several San Dieguito Academy students, teachers, alumni and community members chose gardening gloves over flip flops on June 22.

The vision for an ongoing produce garden is all Vieweg’s. As a member of a local 4-H club, Vieweg wanted to show her community that agriculture in Encinitas “had not faded away” via the Emerald Star Award. The award calls members to draw up a project for the community that will highlight the club’s four Hs: head, heart, hands and health. Vieweg decided to start with today’s students.

Students in San Dieguito Academy’s culinary arts class will learn the rudiments of gardening by getting their hands into fertile raised-beds that will house the plants, and their harvests will be used in class, according to Vieweg. Other Mustangs may volunteer their time to the vision, too.

As of now, no seedlings have made their way into any beds. Rather, the group is working on clearing the area. Come fall, students should be able to plant anything from tomatoes to fruit trees.

And what inspired this lady of the land? Vieweg has livestock and has always been encouraged to work with her hands. With the building boom in Encinitas, Vieweg said she sees the garden as a step forward, because a space should be kept for agriculture.

Vieweg in turn has inspired many. Dadla Ponizil and Judy Berlfein know Vieweg through their son and want to help her succeed. “We see growing local food as healthy for the community,” Ponizil said.

Dana Vieweg, mother of the visionary, knows that this is an opportunity to get food from the “farm to the table.”

Community involvement has bloomed thanks to word-of-mouth. Max Barrows, a San Dieguito Academy alum, heard that Vieweg’s idea included a retaining wall, and his father donated bricks so her dream could turn into a reality.

Vieweg invites the whole community to garden the days away. Donations are also welcome and may be sent to Vieweg at 457 Union Street, Encinitas, CA 92024.