Gardening experienced a boom during the pandemic resulting in a five-year high in 2022. Now, in 2025, a group of Oak Park High School students are working to keep gardening alive right here on campus through the Seeds of Service Club.

The club’s president, freshman Kailey Hand, was inspired to create this club because of her love for nature. 

“I enjoy learning about different plant species and the importance of plants in our ecosystems in the Southern California area and Oak Park area,” Hand wrote to the Talon. “I wanted to bring my joy for gardening to OPHS and to others.”

When asked about her favorite part of running this club, she highlighted how it has helped strengthen her leadership skills.

“Being the president of the Seeds of Service Club allows me to learn about what it takes to be a leader and how important my role is for the members of this club,” Hand wrote. “I also enjoy inspiring others to garden more as well as teaching others about gardening.”

For the next school year, the club plans to focus not only on the high school’s small garden on campus but also on the Oak Park Community Garden located on the corner of Sunnycrest Dr. and Kanan Road.

“Next year I hope to continue working on the OPHS garden by having my club members visit weekly to water the vegetation there and hopefully we will begin meeting after school or on the weekends to help with the Oak Park Community Garden,” Hand wrote. 

Any questions or inquiries regarding joining the club or helping out Seeds of Service can be directed toward the president via email at [email protected]. 

“Our club is open to anyone and everyone and we appreciate all the help we can get,” Hand wrote. “We have meetings every other Tuesday at lunch.”