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What Takes Root: River ’26, the Midland Experience, and the Start of a Life’s Work
Spring 2026
Out on a quieter stretch of Midland’s farm, past the rows of annual crops, something new is beginning to take shape. It does not look like a finished garden yet. The soil is still visible in places, and the plants are small and spread out. Nothing about it feels complete. It’s early, uneven, and still finding its rhythm.
For River ’26, that is exactly what makes it meaningful. “This is the beginning,” River says. “This is going to be the rest of my life.”
What started as a senior project, transforming about half an acre into a native perennial garden, has grown into something more than an academic requirement. The original goal was simple: introduce plants that return year after year, species that already belong in this environment. But the process of building it turned into something more personal, a turning point that helped clarify what kind of work felt worth committing to.
River’s work has already been recognized beyond campus. Along with Midland science teacher Bella Marill, River was named to Santa Barbara County’s “Green 15,” honoring individuals making a meaningful impact in environmental stewardship. The recognition matters, but it’s not the reason the work matters.
When River first arrived at Midland, there was some interest in agriculture but not much direction yet. “I had been growing things before Midland,” River says, “but I didn’t really know what I was doing. I couldn’t even tell when something was ripe.” That started to change through daily life at Midland. Classes like Midland 101, time spent working on the farm, and conversations with teachers and community members all played a role. More than anything, it was the act of doing the work, day after day, that made things begin to click.
“Midland has really been my stepping stone into finding myself,” River says. “Figuring out what I want to be around, what I want to learn, and what I actually care about.”
By senior year, that question felt more immediate. What do you want to pursue, and what kind of work is worth your time? For River, the answer came through the project itself. “When I got here, we didn’t really have perennials or herbs on the farm,” River says. “I wanted to change that.”
At first, the idea seemed straightforward: create a space that brings long-living, native plants into a system that resets each season. In practice, it was more complicated than expected.
“I didn’t plan for everything,” River says. “I hadn’t thought through irrigation, or how long germination would take, or what would happen if things didn’t survive.” Some of them did not. “I didn’t meet my own expectations,” River says. “For a while, that was hard.”
Over time, that became one of the most important parts of the experience. “There’s something rewarding about failing and getting to try again,” River says. “There’s no grade attached to it, but it means more.”
That shift, from trying to get it right to learning through the process, is part of what defines the work. What emerged from the project was not just a garden, but a different way of thinking. “There’s never one right answer,” River says. “Every decision affects something else.” That realization sits at the center of environmental work, where systems are layered and constantly changing.
“Nature is so complex,” River explains. “There’s always something we’re not seeing.”
It also shaped River’s focus on native plants, not just as a design choice, but as a way of approaching sustainability more thoughtfully. “We rely on a really small percentage of edible plants as humans,” River says. “There’s so much more out there, especially plants that already thrive in a place without harming the ecosystem.”
Instead of trying to control the system, the project gradually became about understanding it and working with it. There was also a more personal motivation behind the work. “I’ve noticed fewer people getting involved with the farm,” River says. “But agriculture is what sustains all of us.”
Rather than approaching that as a problem to point out, River saw it as something to respond to. “I wanted to leave something behind,” River says. “Something that might make people curious and bring them out here.”
It is already starting to happen. Students gather in the space in the evenings. Small plants are pushing through the soil, and familiar species like California poppies and sage are beginning to take hold. It is still early, but the direction is there.
Over time, River imagines the space becoming more established. Vines climbing over the geodome, shaded places to sit, and a layout that invites people to stay rather than pass through. “I want future Midlanders to feel the way I do about the farm,” River says.
Projects like this do not happen in isolation. Mentorship played an important role, from guidance in the classroom to hands-on support in building the space. Bella Marill, also recognized as part of the Green 15, reflects the kind of teaching that encourages students to take on complex, open-ended work.
At Midland, those opportunities are present, but not prescribed. “They aren’t forced,” River says. “You can choose to take them or not.” That choice is part of what makes the experience meaningful.
“If you just hear about something, it doesn’t stay with you,” River says. “But if you go through it yourself, especially the hard parts, it does.” That idea runs through much of the learning at Midland. It is not just about absorbing information, but about engaging with it in a way that leaves a lasting impact.
As the project developed, so did River’s sense of direction. There were other interests at one point, including art and architecture. They were appealing, but did not carry the same sense of long-term commitment.
“I wanted to do something I loved,” River says. “Something I could stick with for a long time.” Through this work, that answer became clearer. River will attend Cal Poly to study plant science, focusing on sustainability and the complexity of environmental systems.
“This feels like something that would sustain me too,” River says.
The garden is not finished. In many ways, it reflects exactly where River is now, still early in the process, still developing, and full of potential. There is more to plant, more to learn, and more to build. That ongoing process is part of what gives the work its meaning.
“I’ll come back and see how it’s grown,” River says. “And I think I’ll see my own growth in that too.”
For families, alumni, and prospective students, River’s work offers a clear example of what a Midland education can make possible. Not a single outcome or a single answer, but a process that helps students discover what matters to them, take ownership of it, and begin shaping the kind of impact they want to have.
What takes root here does not end here.
Written by Jasmine Fullman, Admissions Associate
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