Michael And The Mighty Oak

• In 1972 the Conejo Valley Gardening Club Joined with Timber School District's Acacia School to create a 30 min 16mm sound & color film telling the plight of our native Coast Live Oaks and Valley Oaks.

• Click This Link To View Film

  video courtesy of YouTube

  The History Of Michael & The Mighty Oak

• “Four hundred years is a long time to stand on a hillside and watch the world go by. Wouldn't it be wonderful if our giant oak trees could talk and reveal the happenings they have witnessed."
  
  These words were the beginning of a three year project by teacher Mrs. Russell and a group of her fourth grade students who started with an idea and developed it into a working script. During a study of early American History, they decided they wanted to help preserve what is left of the magnificent Coast Live Oaks and Valley Oaks that have stood sentinel over our valley for hundreds of years. They proposed to make a 16mm color, sound film about the oaks which could be viewed by large groups of people.

How The Garden Club Got Involved

A tree planting ceremony in March 1971 brought together these Acacia students and members of the Conejo Valley Garden Club. Forces were joined - assistance came from the garden club in many forms – financial, physical and educational and the film was underway. For the next 2 years the film making process went forward through the efforts of Acacia’s mentally gifted minors program, under the continuing direction of Mrs. Russell.

The Finished Film Premiers

By January 1973 the film was just about completed, so the club started plans for a premiere of the film. Within a week club officers had contacted Bob Simmons, the environmental commentator for Channel 2 News, about getting some coverage of the premier. The club set the 24th of March as the date and arranged to have the use of the Conejo Players Theatre in Thousand Oaks for the event. A luncheon date was set for February 12th with Mrs. Russell, Kay Fingerlie, President of the Garden Club, and club officers Janet Main and Annette Myck to discuss and firm up the plans for the premiere. Invitations were sent out to local service organizations city, county and state governing personalities, parents of the actors and professional people who helped with the film, state and district garden club officers, local T V and Movie actors and the 71-73 Conejo Valley Garden Club members. The theatre could only seat 126 people, and the invitation list was close to 300, so it became necessary to have two showings - one at 8:00 p.m. and the other at 9:00 p.m. Approximately 200 people attended the Saturday night premiere with the 8:00 p.m. showing having the larger attendance. The comments on the film were very favorable and requests were immediately received for its presentation by other organizations such as the Environmental League, the Acacia School Carnival, the local Brownie Troops, the Timber School Board meeting, and the 3rd grade classes at neighboring Madrona elementary school. Since it’s initial screening, the film has been viewed by hundreds, and hundreds of people, and a few years ago it was placed on YouTube so newer generations could enjoy it.

video courtesy of YouTube

Support Of The Children's Garden Project

6 years ago the Conejo Valley Garden Club began offering financial and mentoring assistance to any school in the Conejo Valley School District that had a working garden. Each school year the club chairman contacts the schools, to see which classes are scheduled to have a gardening emphasis that year. Once established, committee members of the Children’s Garden Project meets with the teacher, or parent that is supervising the gardening project. About a week after the club members and school contacts have met, to discuss the garden, a check is sent to help pay for the gardening supplies, like soil, seeds, pots, tools and gloves. The CVGC’s only stipulation is that the money be spent only on gardening supplies, and not on any other items.
Last year the club supported 10 schools, and are hoping to grow that number this year.