Burchell Nursery Donation Summary: Steve List & LAUSD Partnership
- Jun 1
- 2 min read
Updated: Jun 2
Burchell Nursery has maintained a long-standing commitment to supporting agricultural education and community sustainability through its partnership with Steve List, the Farm to Classroom Coordinator for the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). This collaboration, centered at Sylmar Charter High School, has facilitated the donation and distribution of hundreds of fruit and nut trees to schools and low-income community projects throughout Southern California.
February 2026 Donation Overview
In February 2026, Burchell Nursery continued this tradition with a significant donation to Steve List's programs. This latest contribution follows a consistent pattern of seasonal donations aimed at providing schools with high-quality nursery stock during the critical bare root and early planting seasons.
Historical Donation Records
The partnership between Tom Burchell and Steve List has evolved over several years, marked by key donation milestones and nursery visits:
Year | Donation Details | Recipient & Impact |
|---|---|---|
2021 | Cherry and Walnut trees (approx. 100 trees total). | Distributed to teachers, community gardens, and several low-income projects. |
2025 | 150-180 Lemon trees. | 100 trees potted into 5-gallon containers; remainder distributed to Ag and Culinary teachers in non-quarantine areas. |
2026 | Bare root fruit trees. | Provided as educational props and nursery stock for school orchards and classroom labs. |
Impact on Schools and the Community
The donations from Burchell Nursery have had a transformative effect on the educational landscape at Sylmar Charter High School and the broader LAUSD community:
Hands-on Agricultural Education: Students are assigned to groups to raise, identify, and research fruit trees, providing them with practical experience in botany and horticulture.
Curriculum Integration: Donated trees serve as "educational props" for teachers, integrating agriculture into science and culinary arts programs.
Community Resource Development: Beyond the classroom, trees have been utilized to establish and maintain community gardens and support low-income residential projects.
Scaling Impact: Steve List’s vision involves using these donations to develop a robust school nursery that can produce 5-gallon fruit trees specifically tailored for school benefits.
Institutional Information
Donations are facilitated through the LAUSD Food Services and the Farm to
Classroom program.
Organization: Sylmar Charter High School (LAUSD).
Address: 13050 Borden Ave., Sylmar, CA 91342.
Tax ID: 95-6001-908-W.
Burchell Nursery remains a critical partner in Steve List’s mission to grow thriving school orchards and provide agricultural knowledge to the next generation.
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