Newsletter: Planet Pala Spring 2025
Planet Pala Newsletter
The Pala Environmental Department and Planet Pala announce the Planet Pala Spring 2025 Newsletter.
Letter from the Director
Welcome to News from Planet Pala.
What comes to mind when you think of spring? At the Pala Environmental Department, we start thinking about new plants, blooming flowers, warmer temperatures, and longer days. Spring is the season for growth and renewal, and we encourage you to look around your own yard for signs of fresh green leaves, colorful flower buds, and more activity from wildlife. Now is the ideal time to be planting your spring vegetable garden! Learn more in our article on preparing your garden.
Of course, spring can also bring rain showers and the potential for flooding, so it pays to be ready in an emergency. We have tips in this newsletter to help you be prepared for storms. Read on to learn about community events, volunteer opportunities, fixing sneaky water leaks, and more. Welcome to táꞩhpa (springtime)!
You can read all of our newsletters in the Planet Pala Newsletter archive.
Please contact us with comments, questions, or suggestions. We are here for Pala and you!
Vivian Banks Charter School’s Groundbreaking Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
In a display of school spirit, Vivian Banks Charter School celebrated the groundbreaking ribbon-cutting ceremony of its school garden on Saturday, March 8, 2025. The event, attended by students, teachers, parents, and district employees, marked the culmination of months of planning. The garden aims to serve as an educational resource, providing hands-on learning opportunities on sustainability, biology, and nutrition. The garden will boast a variety of plants, including vegetables, herbs, and flowers, all carefully chosen to flourish in the local climate and the culture of the Pala people.
Principal Daniel Costa had the pleasure of cutting the ribbon to get the day’s events underway. Pala’s Environmental Department (PED) was able to lend tools like shovels for volunteers to use to complete the day’s work. PED also connected Vivian Banks Charter School with the San Diego Botanical Garden, whose staff were present and brought native plants to contribute to the garden. Through the SDSU CNNCTS grant, PED was able to provide the school with $1,000 to go towards their garden.
One thing they were interested in growing is grapes. Matthew Morningstar from Pala’s Housing Department lent his expertise, creating a trellis for grapes that aligned with the school’s vision. The grant funds from PED enabled the purchase of supplies to build the trellis, grape plants, soil, and gopher wire. PED also donated six corrugated metal raised beds for the school to grow their plants.
The event concluded with a delightful lunch, where Principal Costa grilled and served hotdogs to the hardworking attendees.
Native Seed Library at the Learning Center
The Native Seed Library at the Pala Learning Center has been restocked for spring with Brittlebush, California Buckwheat, and White Flowering Currant seeds.
Prepare Your Garden for Spring
Spring is here, and now is the time to get your garden ready to plant. A little prep work makes a huge difference in the growth and health of your plants and ensures a good harvest. We all can use a boost of healthy nutrition as well as some savings at the grocery register. With new tariffs on produce, we can expect to pay more for the food we bring home. Imagine what we save in gas/electricity and time when we grow some of our food at home. The money and time you spend in your garden may very well be what you’d spend purchasing, driving to, and shopping at the market.
Before sowing seeds or planting starts (that is, plants grown from seed in small containers for transplanting later), the first place you should focus your attention is your soil. Soil is the key to successful gardening. High-quality soil provides essential nutrients, minerals, and the right loamy texture for new roots to spread out and plants to get established. Since not all soil is the same, improve your new garden space or any soil you used last year by adding compost, worm castings, Azomite rock dust (trace minerals), and organic all-purpose fertilizer. Ingredients to look for in an organic fertilizer should be derived from sources such as kelp, alfalfa meal, feather meal, blood meal, oyster shell, bat guano or fish emulsion. If you have clay soil and you’re planting directly in the ground, consider adding gypsum to help keep your soil from compacting.
After you’ve prepped your soil it’s a good idea to add a mulch layer on the surface. Mulch helps regulate soil temperature and moisture and lessens evaporation. Consider using aged hay, pine needles, or wood chips. A partially composted mulch adds a slow release of loam to your soil and adds to soil nutrition. Using a clean wood chip mulch also provides a safe area for earthworms to hide in when it rains or when you irrigate your garden. Worms till your soil, causing less compaction and regulating air to plant roots while leaving behind additional worm castings to feed your plants.
Once you have your growing area prepared, plan out the spacing of your crops according to their mature size. Overcrowding your growing space can sometimes lead to things like powdery mildew and, at the least, can cause competition between your plants over available nutrients, trace minerals, sunlight, and water.
Here’s a list of some seeds/starts that are appropriate to direct sow and transplant in the month of March through mid-April here in Pala: basil, bok choy, cantaloupes, cilantro, cucumbers, dill, dry beans, fennel, green beans, honeydew melons, okra, parsley, peanuts, pumpkins, sweet corn, sweet potatoes, watermelons, winter squash, and zucchini (summer squash). These are examples of a few to get started with. Speaking with gardeners at your local nursery and getting suggestions for what does well for the season and our area can help you with your success.
Get excited! Happy planting!
Check out the San Diego Seed Company’s Planting Charts and Calendars page for valuable information.
Garden Volunteer Days
The Pala Environmental Department and Planet Pala announce Pala People’s Garden Spring Volunteer Days, which occur at the community garden on the east side of the Pala Admin Building every Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Schedule
- Every Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., starting March 21, 225
- March 21, 2025, to April 25, 2025
- Weather Permitting
Small Leaks, Big Waste – Let’s Fix Them Together
Fix a Leak Week – March 17th – 23rd
Did you know that household leaks can waste almost 1 TRILLION gallons of water every year? (this is equal to the annual household water use for 11 million families!)
Did you know that 10% of all homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons of water every day? (that’s more than one full bathtub’s worth of water!)
What is Fix a Leak Week?
Every year in March, the US EPA’s WaterSense Program promotes one week to bring awareness to just how much water we waste when we have small leaks in our homes. Fix a Leak Week helps remind us all to check around our homes, yards, and workplaces to find potential leaks that can waste water and cause damage to our homes or health.
Water leaks can also create an environment that allows the growth of mold/mildew that can be detrimental to human health. Stagnant water from leaky pipes can also attract disease-carrying pests, like mosquitos. And leaks can also cause damage to your home that can go unnoticed for months before being caught (creating lots of damage in the process).
Here at Pala, we are reliant on our groundwater – we do NOT import any water from off-Reservation. That makes it very important for all of us to conserve as much water as possible, and fixing your leaks is one way to do that.
Where should you check for leaks around your home?
Water leaks can occur in every room of your home, outdoor areas, and in the workplace. You may already be aware of some, but think that it’s not a huge deal, since it’s just a little drip here and there… but these little drips can add up quickly.
Here are some tips to help you find leaks around your home:
- ID a toilet leak by placing a drop of food coloring in the toilet tank; if any color shows up in the bowl after 10 minutes, you have a leak.
- If your flooring/tile ever feels warm underfoot, especially in the kitchen or laundry room, you may have a slab leak.
- Check around your washing machine or dishwasher, water heater, and under sinks for pooling water or damp areas.
- Check for signs of moisture or mold on your walls, ceilings, or floors.
- Look for drips from your bathroom/kitchen faucets, showers, or outdoor faucets.
- Outside, check for broken sprinklers or nozzles spraying in the wrong direction (anywhere that isn’t falling on a plant). You can also get a professional to do an irrigation audit to make sure your sprinklers are operating correctly. This is one of the biggest water wasters!
EPA WaterSense
Together, we can all help Pala save water for future generations. Visit the EPA’s WaterSense webpage to learn more ways to learn how to fix your leaks and save water.
Seasonal Rains Create Hazards on the Pala Reservation
As late winter and early spring storms sweep through the region, the Pala Reservation faces heightened risks of flooding, road closures, and other storm-related hazards. Climate experts warn that extreme rainfall events are becoming more frequent and intense, leading to flash floods, mudslides, and drainage issues. Now is the time to stay informed and prepared.
Why Flooding is a Growing Concern
Inland San Diego County is expected to experience longer droughts, followed by stronger, more intense storms. The drier soil from these droughts increases the risk of flash flooding along rivers and creeks. Pala has a history of damaging floods, with major events in 1998, 2005, 2010, and 2017 impacting roads, homes, and daily life.
Beyond property damage and road closures, floodwaters bring additional dangers, including mold growth, contaminated drinking water, and a rise in mosquito-borne illnesses. These secondary hazards pose health threats to the community.
How to Stay Safe During Storms & Flooding
Being prepared can make all the difference during severe weather. Follow these essential safety steps:
- Follow evacuation orders and safety advisories issued by local officials.
- Never drive through flooded roads – water levels can rise quickly, creating dangerous conditions.
- Check-in on elders and vulnerable neighbors to ensure their safety.
- Include pets in your emergency plan and ensure they have proper shelter.
- Prepare an emergency supply kit with essential supplies, including medications, food, and water.
Pala Reservation Emergency Preparedness
Stay informed, stay prepared, and stay safe this winter. Visit the PREP webpage to learn more ways to stay safe and be prepared.
Should researchers work to bring the wooly mammoth back from extinction?
Scientists recently genetically engineered mice to create “woolly mice” having characteristics such as longer hair like the woolly mammoth. Check out pictures of these adorable mice and learn more about the research being done to bring back the woolly mammoth from extinction and decide for yourself whether or not you think that would be a good idea.
Planet Pala
Welcome to Planet Pala. This is the place to learn how you can help the Pala Environmental Department protect Mother Earth. Come to Planet Pala to learn about Pala’s plants and animals, discover how to do your fun activities like building a DIY bee habitat or planting a pollinator garden, and get tips on healthy, green living.
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Pala Environmental Department
For more information, contact the Pala Environment Department:
760-891-3510 | ped@palatribe.com | ped.palatribe.com