Western Growers Foundation (WGF) is working with the California Department of Education (CDE), Nutrition Services Division (NSD) to provide 100 garden grants of $1,000 each to eligible child care centers or preschools participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). These competitive garden grants will be awarded to agencies or sites that demonstrate how they will use garden-enhanced nutrition education to promote fruit and vegetable consumption among 2-5 year olds in child care or preschool settings.

Through the generous support of HMC Farms, the Western Growers Foundation is opening up a competitive grant opportunity for Oakland Unified School District K-12 grade schools, to receive a $1,000 grant to grow and sustain an edible school garden. Click here to begin the application process. 

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CSGN Meeting Notes - June 18, 2012

In attendance:

A school garden is an ideal location to tie hands-on learning to language arts. Here are some ways to “dig in” with literature activities, including the Imagine this… Story Writing Contest (deadline: Nov. 1).

When the Network for a Healthy California began developing the four-page Harvest of the Month educator newsletters in 2005, there was one element everyone agreed should be included: a section on school gardens. At the time, gardens were a relatively new find in schools; but it was apparent to all that school gardens held tremendous potential to enhance learning opportunities for students. They just made good sense!

“Tell me and I’ll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I’ll understand.” – Chinese proverb

It’s a hot summer day, and students have just harvested the last green beans and peppers from their school gardens. They are looking for some new recipes so they can taste the fruits of their labors. But where to start to find simple, easy ideas to sample and prepare the green beans and peppers they’ve grown?

Middle and High School gardening programs are often known for a lack of resources to support learning in the classroom and garden. The structure of primary grades and the content that is being taught at the elementary level does make it easier for garden-based learning to occur. But there are many great resources and reasons to continue garden-based learning programs in middle schools. Here are few resources found at CSGN.org to support middle school garden-based learning.

Best Practices in Middle School Gardening