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CLCA Kern County Chapter Aids in Extreme Makeover

The CLCA Kern County Chapter is always looking for a good community project. This year, Javier Lesaca found one that will get our chapter seen on TV.

Recently, Javier was contacted by ABC’s Extreme Makeover Weight Loss Edition to see if he would be interested in providing material and labor to create a backyard oasis for a contestant who lives in Bakersfield. Javier mentioned he was affiliated with CLCA and would speak to the local board about participating.

Extreme Makeover Weight Loss Edition airs on Sunday nights and focuses on helping a particular individual lose more than a couple hundred pounds within a year’s time. This includes a month of one-on-one exercise and dietary training with Chris Powell, Fitness Professional, as well as monthly goals to be met once the contestant gets back home. Prior to coming home, the producers make improvements within the contestant’s household, specifically in the kitchen and family rooms. They improve the décor and replace the couch and TV with a treadmill. This helps keep contestants focused on their goal and promotes motivation to succeed.

Several members of CLCA met with the Associate Producer, Jessie Middlesworth and the crew. The objective was to create a serene vegetable garden to promote healthy eating and outdoor activity with the rest of the family. Javier Lesaca, Dale Edwards, Jerry Koop, and Jim and Megan Rios were on hand to discuss the design. The Producers wanted an organic feel to the landscape with an area for outdoor cooking, a conversation area and a garden. Rios Design Studio brought some quick sketches to prompt creative discussion. Dale suggested using stainless steel watering troughs as planters. Jerry Koop offered his services in pre-emergent spraying and 18” round stepping pavers.

Olga See worked closely with the Producer to determine what edible plants would be best. Fruits like strawberries, boysenberries, raspberries and blue berries were added to compliment the citrus. Olga recanted, “You should have seen their son; he loved the strawberries and was eating them right out of the garden.” Olga also added a lot of herbs, and three kinds of mint.

Chocolate, spearmint and orange mint were used as groundcovers. Italian herbs such as basil, oregano, and marjoram were in the raised containers. Vegetables like tomatoes and chili peppers were also in the raised containers. Even edible flowers like marigolds were added for color. “The homeowner and his little son were amazed at the transformation of their yard. They mentioned that is was just what they needed to continue the program,” Olga commented. “The Producers even told me that in the episode of the reveal, Chris Powell, went over each edible plant and explained to the contestant how to prepare and cook with them.”

Kern County CLCA would like to thank the following for donating materials:

• Alpha & Omega Gardening for pavers and pre-emergent spray and application;
• O. See Em Bloom Nursery and Landscaping for edible plants;
• Century Landscape for equipment and labor;
• Buck’s Landscaping Materials and Pond Shop for Redwood Mulch;
• Maranatha Landscaping for Decomposed Granite;
• The Bulk Yard for Planting Mix;
• Ewing Irrigation for irrigation materials and labor;
• Willits & Newcomb Citrus Nursery for (4) Citrus Trees;
• Rios Design Studio for landscape design plan;
• Kern County CLCA for (4) stainless steel troughs

It took less than a morning to retrofit the irrigation and install all materials. A special thank you to all those who donated their time and labor:

• O. See Em Bloom Nursery and Landscaping Crew: Olga See, Jose, Luis and Elias.
• Century Landscape Crew: Wayne Cox, Juan and Alfredo.
• Lesaca Landscape Crew: Javier Lesaca, Santos, Carlos and Oscar.
• Ewing Irrigation: Tristan Martina •Bakersfield College: Lindsay Ono

“This was really a great opportunity for many of us to work together on a project,” said Javier. “Everything went really smoothly, and it was enjoyable to get everything done so fast and see the great results. I am looking forward to more opportunities for us to work together again.”

The episode will be shown this fall on ABC on a Sunday evening at 9 pm. You don’t want to miss it.