SDAITC awarded $10,000 in February to eleven schools to enhance their garden and nutrition programs. School finalists received visits from the grant committee in December. Committee members enjoyed seeing educators and students in action, engaged in hands-on learning focused on seeding and transplanting vegetables, proper fertilizing and watering, pest control, and harvesting the fruits of their labor. All the students gain a better understanding of nutrition and acquire a taste for all types of vegetables. Composting and organic growing are implemented at nearly all the school gardens we visited. Fred Ceballos, coordinator of the Garden Education Program committee, commented, “It is so gratifying to see the garden/nutrition programs becoming more popular and sustainable in our San Diego County schools. However, we wish we could fund every quality application.”
This year’s award recipients:
Benito Juarez Elementary, San Diego Two hydroponic towers
Creekside Elementary, Poway Supplies to expand 2 year old garden
Darnall Charter School, San Diego Garden supplies, plants, and fertilizer
Escondido High School Raised garden beds to expand existing garden
High Tech Elementary, Chula Vista Garden materials, storage, composter, worm kit
Longfellow K-8 Spanish Magnet School Expand garden to include Middle School students
Mt. Vernon Elementary, Lemon Grove 2nd yr project needing tools, seeds, and gopher wire
Ocean Knoll Children’s Farm, Encinitas Upgrade 1-acre school farm/garden and poultry area
San Diego Second Chance Program Seeds, soil, fertilizer, etc.
St. Patrick Catholic School, Carlsbad Start a Seed Saver Library to add to existing program
Valley Center Middle School Farm 8 raised metal garden beds