Sarah Metzel

The festival featured guitar, drum, and harmonica playing in the courtyard amphitheater.

The garden festival took place on May 24 after school in the AHS garden. The garden is located in the main courtyard which is adjacent to the library.

“Very few people know about [the garden], it’s a hidden gem in the center of AHS,” senior K.L. Hoang said. “It’s at the heart of the school just as the Amazon forest is at the heart of South America.”

Hoang coordinated the event in collaboration with the Just World club and the Green Atoms. Although it took patience and perseverance to get the festival approved by the administration, Hoang’s plans ultimately succeeded.

“We’re having this festival to raise awareness, financial resources, and also just to have fun,” Hoang said.

The festival featured the musical talents of freshman Leif Jomaud, sophomore Steve Aderton, junior Julio Mendieta, and several others. Guitar music could be heard throughout the courtyard as attendees played frisbee in the grass.

“I enjoyed listening to the other performers, it seemed like they had a lot of fun,” Aderton said. “The people were very encouraging. Despite the cold weather I know I had a very pleasant time.”

The green atoms sold fresh salads to festival attendees. Junior Kristina Batal sold salads topped with homemade dressings. They were sold for two dollars a bowl, and the profits will go toward the upkeep of the garden.

“We need more seeds and tools [for the garden],” Batal said. “The money we raise can buy the supplies that we need for a better garden.”

Currently, there are very few students who regularly work in the garden. Hoang and the Green Atoms are always looking to train anyone interested in agriculture and planting.

As musicians packed up their instruments and the festival came to a close, there was talk of the festival returning as an annual event.

“We plan on having a bigger and better festival next year,” Batal said.