Toil in the soil
Elvis Ardon, 17, clips sunflowers from the garden at North Hollywood High School, where he and other students learn about gardening and business under the direction of Mud Baron, who oversees the Los Angeles Unified School District’s garden program. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Baron, holding a rose from North Hollywood High, is charged with caring for the district’s 526 gardens. He and student volunteers have been working all summer to ensure seedlings are ready to farm out to other school gardens in fall. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Luis Gonzalez, 14, wheels gardening equipment as Daisy Claro, 18, looks on. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
A bee latches on to a sunflower in the five-acre North Hollywood High garden. “Ive learned what city kids can do if given a chance to grow in the garden, said Baron, 38. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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Luisa Becerra, 15, left, and Elvis clip flowers. In the last few weeks, the teenagers have raised $830 hawking sunflowers, roses, herb bowls and other freshly cut plants at the downtown farmers market and at an impromptu market at district headquarters. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Ivette Becerra, 17, trailed by Fernanda Zepeda, 14, carries freshly cut flowers. With the district’s budget deficit, Baron has been handing out flowers like cigars at events around town in hopes of garnering donations to fund the program and his job. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
