Sustaining the Garden Program


Because it’s a magnet school, both teachers and students really want to be there and feel a lot of school pride. Read more about how the team at Baird has sustained this program for over 12 years!

How can you keep your garden program going on minimal funds?

The garden doesn’t have to be fancy.

The North Forty is a combination of

  • raised beds fashioned out of different materials  
  • in-ground beds
  • a self-made greenhouse

Partnerships are key.

  • California Women in Agriculture visited and worked in the potato and carrot gardens.  They returned later and awarded the school a $500 grant. 
  • It’s common to see visitors from California Foundation for Ag in the Classroom (http://www.cfaitc.org/)
  • CSU Fresno: The Baird program links to CSU, Fresno’s ag program.
  • The Baird program also links to CDFA’s Buy California Grown Initiative, to California Certified Farmers Markets, and to the International Agriculture program.
  • Local nurseries are a great partner for the school, donating many plants and other supplies.
  • A local consultant who specializes in heirloom tomatoes has donated plant starts and advice.
  • Local UC Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners are a great resource.

Look for donations—businesses love to give to a garden!

  • Orchard Supply Hardware gave garden supplies.
  • Trader Joe’s donated pumpkins and bales of hay. 
  • A local farming family donated a tractor—yes, they have a tractor on the school site! 
  • There is no shortage of possibilities for in-kind donations.
  • They fundraise through their campus farmers market and festivals. 

Put the fun in fundraising.

  • Hold festivals—they help raise money and create community. 
  • Let students sell their products—at Baird they not only sell produce, but other items they make in wood shop. 

Garden maintenance:

  • Watering cans are a great way to keep the students busy.  However, don’t do the real job of irrigation, so the watering needs to be supplemented by drip irrigation and some overhead watering.
  • Summer maintenance is covered by students and their parents.