School Gardens

Farmscape, with its raised beds planter system and plant-it, tend-it package for private homes, adapted for schools; vegetable sales to teachers help pay for farmer visits

By Emily Green

Los Angeles Times 2011-03-11

In New Orleans, educational venture and commercial urban farm flourishes in wrecked neighborhood; students grow $2,500 of produce weekly which they sell at farmers' market, restaurants

By Charles Wilson

The New York Times 2011-01-15

Lame duck Congress may take up Child Nutrition Act sponsored by outgoing Senator Blanche Lincoln; at issue is $2.2 billion in funding for bill from food stamps cuts

By Alyson Klein

Education Week 2010-11-01

$1 million in grants to go to high-poverty schools for starting community gardens that teach about gardening, nutrition and provide produce for school meals, students' families

By Nanci Hellmich

USA Today 2010-08-25

Opinion: A look at New York City's vanished school gardens of the past could offer instruction for resisting pressures of population, development today

By Daniel Bowman Simon

The Huffington Post 2010-08-20

Children in schools that encouraged gardening became more resilient, confident and lived healthier lives, study shows

BBC 2010-06-28

Though cheap food is pillar of economy, it is increasingly contested by groups citing its costs to society, environment, public health, animal welfare and gastronomy

By Michael Pollan

The New York Review of Books 2010-06-10

University of Victoria administration bulldozes students' unsanctioned edible gardens after midnight, vows that campus security will "deal with" planned efforts to replant

CBC News 2010-03-26

New Jersey high school links gardening to physical education for credit, benefit to community

By Jared Flesher

The New York Times 2010-03-26

Blog: Resource as valuable as school gardens shouldn't depend on unpaid volunteers or overloaded teachers

By Sarah Bernardi

The Slow Cook 2010-02-08

At cash-short NY school, privately funded Edible Schoolyard project takes shape under direction of Alice Waters

By Kim Severson

The New York Times 2010-01-20

Gardens reconnect Zuni children with agricultural heritage

At New Mexico State Fair, new high school horticulture class takes first place for its comb honey and its green onions, snags third for its junior garden display. But real reward is involving Zuni children in ancient agricultural heritage. Using traditional farming practices, students built water-conserving waffle gardens, planted orchards, and in many cases used native seeds handed down through generations of Zuni farmers.

By Christina Pheley

New Mexico State University 2009-09-18

Opinion: White House garden as revolutionary emissions reduction agent

Michelle Obama's garden and her message of eating fresh-picked food is truly subversive: Change America's eating habits, improve health, cut emissions, change the world. Globally, agricultural sector releases more greenhouse gases (click 'See also') in growing, transporting, meat production than any activity except for constructing, heating, cooling buildings. Food sector should be priority in talks before Copenhagen meeting, where next round of emissions cuts will be decided.

By Mark Hertsgaard

The Nation. 2009-04-20

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First Lady, USDA head praise produce during garden planting

As Congress reviews funding for school lunch program, Michelle Obama, Tom Vilsack of USDA, elementary students, chefs plant 25 varieties of heirloom seeds and seedlings including kale, rhubarb, arugula, lettuce, spinach and Savoy cabbage in White House garden. USDA head tells pupils they need daily access to fresh foods.

By Jane Black

The Washington Post 2009-04-09

Fighting downturn with power of growing

Fighting downturn with power of growing

Karla Cook/thefoodtimes

Growing a vegetable garden won't balance budget, replace lost benefits or make up for shock of lost job. But part of our crisis is sense of alienation, powerlessness. You don't meet many alienated gardeners, unless it's been a terrible woodchuck year. And: A deepening drift of seed catalogs and the virtual gardens of winter (click 'See also').

By Verlyn Klinkenborg

The New York Times 2009-02-15

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New USDA head backs school gardens, food policy councils - and all eaters

Tom Vilsack, new USDA head, says agency constituency extends past commercial farming to those who eat. He backs creation of school, urban community gardens, which link what children eat to knowing where it comes from; creating state food policy councils; and in nurturing market for organic and whole foods. First challenge: Improve Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, up for renewal.

By Jane Black

The Washington Post 2009-02-05

Building confidence with lessons from school gardens

In school gardens, students get hands-on lessons in planting, composting and pruning, plus lessons on math, science and language arts (click 'See also') - and eating vegetables. 'On every level, it's such a win-win situation,' says advocate. 'People come out of school gardens feeling very empowered. It really engages people and builds confidence for kids and parents.'

By Jacqueline Mroz

The New York Times 2008-12-05

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Using lunch to change pupils' thinking about eating

Using lunch to change pupils' thinking about eating

Edutopia

In the Edible Schoolyard program, students learn to grow food, then prepare it.

Through Alice Waters' Edible Schoolyard program, middle schoolers grow and eat their own organic, seasonal foods. Year-'round process teaches traditional curriculum, plus environmental stewardship, interconnectedness of people to one another, to community, and to earth, and an appreciation for the value - and joy - of meaningful work.

By Roberta Furger

Edutopia/The George Lucas Educational Foundation 2004-03-11

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Going green for marketplace lessons

With new greenhouse, fourth-graders learn marketplace lessons - growing and selling seedlings - then, investing their profits. Last season, they learned an additional lesson - the bank that provided lessons on savings, loans and checking accounts failed, and now there's a question of who will teach finance class.

By Emily Richmond

Las Vegas Sun 2008-10-15

Teens grow nutritious economy in view of Wall Street

Replacing an asphalt lot, a three-acre garden in view of Wall Street becomes a go-to place for teens and has drawn more than 5,000 students with their classes. Gardens were begun by two employees of Red Hook yourth court who started a nonprofit, Added Value, and now employ teens who 'weed it, turn it, rake it, seed it' - and sell the bounty at a farmers' market and to Brooklyn restaurants.

By Jim Dwyer

The New York Times 2008-10-08

Urban farmer wins 'genius grant' for push to make fresh food affordable

Urban farmer wins 'genius grant' for push to make fresh food affordable

MacArthur Foundation/youtube

Will Allen uses aquaculture and vermiculture, and heats greenhouses with composting.

Urban farmer in Milwaukee wins $500,000 MacArthur 'genius grant' (click 'See also) for developing farming methods and educational programs designed to provide healthy food to everyone. His nonprofit, Growing Power (www.growingpower.org), just expanded its program of selling bags of fruit and vegetables for $14 -- a week's worth for a family of four.

By Lee Bergquist

Journal Sentinel (Milwaukee, WI) 2008-09-22

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A growing refuge and food source

Campus garden becomes edible classroom for middle-schoolers whose families sought refuge in Vermont from Somalia and Burundi. Congo native teaches children Swahili after enticing them to dig in the dirt; unperturbed by lack of water spigot, pupils helped carry water for plants, remembering the need to carry water in Africa.

By Julia Melloni

Burlington Free Press (VT) 2008-09-19

Opinion: Retooling Slow Food for U.S.

Opinion: Retooling Slow Food for U.S.

Slow Food

In society that takes comfort in its politicians hunching over burgers from the Dollar Menu at fast-food outlets, Alice Waters, with her Edible Schoolyard, is truly subversive. She plants seeds of honest taste memories in every child. To become American, Slow Food must figure out how to make sure everyone can afford a lovely, local bunch of carrots.

By John Birdsall

San Francisco magazine 2008-09-01

Sprouting success in school gardens

Garden-to-Kitchen program teaches elementary schoolchildren - and adults - to plant and harvest vegetables, but it's also helping needy Oregon families save money on their grocery bills. Success may help program expand to more schools and communities, says founder.

By Jillian Daley

Statesman Journal (OR) (may require purchase) 2008-07-31

Garden powers middle school documentary

Tomatoes, pumpkins, basil and Massachusetts middle school students star in video (click 'See also') urging other schools to grow gardens and think environmentally. 'The kids are using math and English skills to make a difference,' says teacher. And, says director, if 'you let the kids grow their own food they're more likely to eat the green beans.'

By Jeff Gilbride

The Daily News Tribune (MA) 2008-07-24

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Starter garden resources for schools, back yards

Though growing season is upon us, resources on tending, weeding, compost making, harvesting and cooking vegetables still available in Chicago. Good starting point is Edible Gardens in Lincoln Park Zoo's Farm-in-the- Zoo, which are garden demonstration models for home and school gardens, and popular field trip destination.

ABC7 News Chicago 2008-06-17

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Growing high school graduation rates in hockey rink-turned-garden

In effort to increase graduation rates of native American students and teach them about science, nutrition, food costs and medicine, Minnesota medical school plants garden in hockey rink. The gardens, which are blessed each morning, show how individuals, planted in good soil, can grow into something really spectacular as well, says advocate.

By Jana Hollingsworth

Duluth News Tribune 2008-06-27

Food-earth connection in garden for first-graders

Food-earth connection in garden for first-graders

Karla Cook/thefoodtimes

The lettuce crop in an elementary school garden.

At inner-city school, first-graders learn origins of their food in garden plot containing apple tree, pepper plants, strawberries, romaine lettuce, basil, rosemary, and cherry tomatoes. 'When children have authentic experiences like this, it contributes to their ability to read, write, compute and understand their world,' says principal.

By Marty Graham

Union Tribune (CA) 2008-06-28

Introducing a new generation to farming

Students tend, sell crops, learn media relations and other modern-day farming skills at California high school's agricultural academy. Also on display: another side of agriculture, with potential for jobs in food safety, technology. Coordinator hopes to grow program and involve more students, particularly girls (click 'See also').

By Eric Anderson

Watsonville Register-Pajaronian (CA) 2008-05-28

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Growing food and children

Concrete garden transformed to Edible Schoolyard in New Orleans, and memories of hurricane recede as children learn to plant and weed, harvest and cook. School gardens aren't new, but kinder-garten (children-garden) concept taking root. In California, garden program graduates have become landscapers and tree surgeons working for the schools.

Janet McConnaughey

The Associated Press; San Francisco Chronicle 2008-05-04

Opinion: Garden for homeland security

Food again is vital to our national security. We don't want a repeat of food riots that occurred during the Civil War, the Panic of 1893, and the Great Depression. As it did in World War I, government should allocate funds to promote national school, home and community gardening. Back then, Uncle Sam said, "Garden!" and millions of Americans picked up their hoes.

By Daniel J. Desmond and Rose Hayden-Smith

Ventura County Star 2008-05-04

Opinion: Cultivating a 'garden mind'

Opinion: Cultivating a 'garden mind'

The Edible Schoolyard

An appreciation of nature and life cycles begins in the garden (The Edible Schoolyard, above), then flows throughout the school day.

Placing the idea of the garden at the heart of school, beyond the transient thrills of consumption, nurtures regard for the natural world and life's cycles. We learned that nature wasn't limited to the garden; discussions flowed from the lunch tables to history classes, at our weekly faculty meeting and at assemblies.

By Philip Nix

ecoliteracy.org 2008-03-14

Growing nutrition

Growing nutrition

Beets harvested by students at a school garden.

Though Senate dropped school snacks reform, its farm/food bill does create a pilot program that adds edible gardens to curriculum of poor schools. It also expands program that provides free fruit and vegetable snacks to elementary students in low-income areas.

By Christina A. Samuels

Education Week 2008-01-08

Garden gains

With 40 percent of California high schools maintaining gardens, one school takes it further, linking to business economics as students grow ingredients for sauce and salsa, package it, then sell it at the local farmers' market. With profits, they pay for next year's batch and award college scholarships.

By Laurel Rosenhall

Sacramento Bee 2007-12-22

Slow growing

From the Slow Food Miami movement five edible schoolyard gardens grow for teaching taste, math, health, science, writing, social studies - and for fighting the childhood obesity epidemic by connecting students to food production process. Three more gardens are in the works.

By Ana Veciana-Suarez

The Miami Herald 2008-01-01

Blossoming kids

The key to successful school gardens is giving children responsibility for planning and decision making, according to a Cornell University study. Garden initiatives often limit student participation to mundane tasks such as planting and weeding, but greater involvement led to greater learning in a two-year program in New York and Pennsylvania.

By Michael Neff

American Society for Horticultural Science 2007-10-31

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Growing lessons:

Austin-based non-profit group adds school gardens and farm-to-fork program to agenda that includes teaching low-income residents garden programs and how to sell produce they grow at farmers' markets.

By Paul Brown

News8Austin (TX) 0000-00-00

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Growing at school:

Elementary and junior-high students in Missouri learn horticulture from ground to farmers' market; school garden holds potatoes, green beans, cucumbers, tomatoes, squash and corn.

By Greg Grisolano

The Joplin Globe (MO) 2007-08-15

Growing lessons:

Vermont school, working with local farmers and agricultural experts, plants garden designed to feed its 200 students homegrown vegetables at lunchtime, teaching a way of life, not only nutrition or fitness.

By Nicole Orne

Brattleboro Reformer (VT)