Mark Fierle

Mark and his master gardener associates in the Orange County,CA area have established 

3 SFG beds; a 4x8,a 4x4 pyramid w/ strawberries,and a 3x3 for children at the Cenntenial  Farm  Orange County Fair Grounds.  Of course an SFG Sign and explanation are on the site.   The fairgrounds have about 5 acres,animals, regular row gardens and fruit trees.1.4 million Fair visitors see the gardens, 12 months out of the year including  80,000 school age children.

The former El Toro Marine Base in Irvine,CA  is now called Great Park.There, Mark and the master gardeners planed and designed Farm and Food Land.  They  installed 3 4x8 SFG's in this demonstration area on how to grow different gardens.

     Mark visits 2 schools  on regular basis  where he teaches SFG to the students.

He also teaches at the Braile Institute. Mark volunteers twice a year to do workshops for the blind to teach them  how they can have their own SFG .  This has been very successful and fulfilling to him.  Even by touch the blind can tell if a tomato is ripe. He plays a seed game with them teaching them the different seed sizes and feel.  He tells them what they are and then mixes them up and has them identify them.  Mel worked at one time at the Helen Keller Institute and helped Mark to develop a curriculum

The blind have learned how to locate where their garden should be by feeling the sun on their face.

     The list goes on for mark.  He has aided Habitat for Humanity in San Juan Capistrano,CA where they

built 27 homes for disabled Marines families    Mark was instrumental in  placing  27 SFG's,  one in each home.

     Just last year in April. …Mark worked with University of Redlands in CA .  They contacted SFGF for help and Mel asked Mark to help with their project for Rwanda.  He corresponded through email and then went to the University to teach those who would be going to that country.  He taught them to make a 2x3 garden on wheels. This benefited people in Rwanda because  they could roll their SFG indoors at night to keep it from being stolen. He taught  how to compost,use scrap lumber, old newspaper or cardboard for weed cloth.

Please email sfgteachers@gmail.com for a copy of the powerpoint, HOW TO FEED THE HUNGRY

by Mark Fierle.