The Bakersfield College Horticulture Department hosted its sixth year of Garden Fest on April 9 at Horticulture Renegade Park.
It was an eventful day that brought crowds of people to see different booths and free seminars featured by BC staff and public organizations that was put on to provide the public with environmentally friendly ideas of agriculture education.
Live jazz music sung by “the lounge guy,” Roger Martin and the smell of barbecued ribs, cooked by BC’s Culinary Department, set the scene for attending guests.
BC’s Childcare Department, greenhouses and related Agriculture Services, provided free giveaway products and materials for gardening and kitchen attire.
The agriculture booths included raffling and selling different plants, from edible cherry tomatoes and strawberries, advertised by the Green Thumb Garden Club, to different types of native and indigenous shrubs and orchids displayed by the Orchid Society and Green Leaf Hydroponics.
BC horticulture technician and Garden Fest organizer Sally Sterns was among the crowd occupying the greenhouses.
Sterns said, “this is a perfect way to show people what BC has to offer from our Agriculture Department and there’s plenty here for the kids. We have the bounce houses in the back and there’s plenty more for everyone to see.”
According to Sterns, the funds made by each group at Garden Fest go toward financially supporting their organization on campus.
Among the bounce houses was a Ben and Jerry’s stand that provided sweet treats for children and adults to eat as they strolled around the area.
Multi-colored koi fish were available for adoption in kiddie pools next to the greenhouses of many different shapes and sizes.
Arts and crafts, organic foods and eco friendly hybrid automobiles were also exhibited for advertisement and purchase at appropriate costs.
Sterns’ was more than satisfied by turnout of students and families that attended Garden Fest. “I’m very impressed with how great it turned out. This year we had a larger crowd and better attendance than last year. I’m very pleased,” said Sterns.
BC’s drum line made a musical entrance as they paraded through the garden adding to the festival’s entertainment.
“The drummers were very convenient for us and they sounded great,” said Sterns. “Roger Martin on the mic was also big hit with our audience; he normally sings at the Padre once a week.”
As the festival proceeded through the evening, channel 29 and 23 arrived to record the activities.
“That’s a first for us having the television stations here,” said Sterns. “That’s never happened before. As for next year, I’d like to see more RVs for our outdoor recreation.”