About Us

Mission: The School Garden Network of Sonoma County supports and promotes sustainable garden- and nutrition-based learning programs in Sonoma County schools, connects school communities with fresh, locally grown foods, and provides a forum for exchanging information and resources. We empower youth to embrace healthy eating habits and to develop respect for and stewardship of all living things.

History: Since its inception in 2003, SGN has offered nearly $70,000 in grant funding to 12 local schools. Fundraising and outreach for these programs continue to be top priorities. Other projects include:

• Providing paid mentors to support grantee schools with guidance and resources.
• Linking school garden programs and volunteers.
• Offering events, workshops and networking opportunities.
• Donating garden-related curriculum to the Sonoma County Office of Education.
• Distributing free plants and seeds to garden programs.
• Creating alliances with local community partners.
• Supporting farm-to-school connections

Board of Directors: The School Garden Network's Board of Directors are a dedicated group of volunteers who effectively run the organization, oversee SGN committees, and further the mission of the School Garden Network.

SGN 2010-2011 Board of Directors:

Lisa Preschel- President & Garden-based Education Committee Chair; Director: School Garden Teacher Training and Support Program @ Occidental Arts & Ecology Center (OAEC)

Vanessa Tavernetti- Secretary; Community and School Garden Coordinator, Petaluma City School District

Sue Davis- Treasurer; Organic Farmer, Bohemian Farmers' Collective

Amber Napoleon- Board Member & School Food Committee Chair; Nutrition Consultant and Natural Chef

Larry Martin- Board Member & Fundraising Committee Chair; President: Food & Wine Trails Epicurean Tours

Kate Raschke- Board Member & Outreach Chair; Communications Coordinator: Westminster Woods Camp & Conference Center

School Garden Network Administrator- Marcus Borgman

Committees: Most of SGN's work is accomplished by committees that focus on one aspect of what SGN does. We can always use help! Consider joining one of the following committees to pursue your interests, use your skills and grow more school gardens.

FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE:

CONTACT: fundraising@schoolgardens.org

GOAL: To raise annual funds to support SGN projects such as: Salad Bar grants, Cooking From the Garden mini-grants, Garden-based Education grants, school garden Mentor program, workshops, resources, and marketing materials.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Meets once per month for 2 hours. Chair provides updates at monthly Board meetings.
• Researches potential funding sources.
• Writes grant proposals.
• Develops relationships with community partners through presentations, meetings and other networking opportunities.
• Identifies and solicits individual donors and community or corporate sponsors.
• Works with Outreach committee to develop and maintain marketing materials.
• Organizes special events and fundraisers such as plant sales.

OUTREACH COMMITTEE:

CONTACT: outreach@schoolgardens.org

GOAL: To promote awareness and support of garden and nutrition-based learning programs in Sonoma County schools and provide a networking forum for those invested in school gardens to exchange information and resources.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Meets once per month for 1 1/2 hours. Chair provides updates at monthly Board meetings.
• Develops and maintains outreach and marketing materials in print and online.
• Coordinates tabling at farmer's markets & community events.
• Recruits and coordinates SGN volunteers.
• Works with administrator to update and maintain website content.
• Manages media contacts; writes & distributes press releases.
• Maintains donor, membership and volunteer databases.
• Solicits and updates photos and program descriptions of school gardens in Sonoma County.

SCHOOL FOOD COMMITTEE:

CONTACT: schoolfood@schoolgardens.org

GOAL: To promote healthy eating habits, support nutrition education and facilitate connections between school communities and fresh local foods through grants, research, and education.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Meets once per month for 1 1/2 hours. Chair provides updates at monthly Board meetings.
• Develops, maintains and oversees Cooking in the Garden grants and Salad Bar grants.
• Distributes grant announcements and fields questions from potential applicants.
• Appoints grant selection committee and supplies with necessary materials.
• Hires and trains Mentors to provide grantee schools guidance and resources.
• Receives and reviews site visit reports and other documents provided by Mentors.
• Evaluates grantee schools, and makes recommendations to the Board on continued funding.
• Coordinates photos and other program materials from grantee schools for outreach and marketing.
• Maintains resource binder of nutrition materials, recipes and curriculum.
• Promotes awareness of local agriculture and consumption of fresh produce, and fosters local farm to school partnerships.

GARDEN-BASED EDUCATION COMMITTEE:

CONTACT: gcgrant@schoolgardens.org

GOAL: To empower and foster effective leadership for creating and sustaining diverse garden-based education programs in Sonoma County schools.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Meets once per month for 1 1/2 hours. Chair provides updates at monthly Board meetings.
• Develops, maintains and oversees Garden-based Education grants.
• Distributes grant announcement and fields questions from potential applicants.
• Appoints grant selection committee and supplies with necessary materials.
• Hires and trains Mentors to provide grantee schools guidance and resources.
• Evaluates grantee schools, and makes recommendations to the Board on continued funding.
• Receives and reviews site visit reports and other documents provided by mentors of grantee schools.
• Creates and revises documents and timelines as needed for GBE Program.
• Coordinates photos and other materials from grantee schools for outreach and marketing.
• Fosters relationships between local school garden programs and other educational resources.

WORKSHOPS & RESOURCES COMMITTEE:

CONTACT: resources@schoolgardens.org

GOAL: To provide educational resources to the school garden community.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develops and coordinates educational workshops on topics such as creating & sustaining a school garden, cob oven building, seed saving, school yard habitats, linking curriculum to state standards, dyeing with plants, etc.
• Coordinates school garden tours and networking events.
• Designs curriculum boxes and delivers to Sonoma County Office of Education (SCOE) Library.
• Donates free seeds, plants and other resources to school gardens.
• Updates Resources page on the website.