SGN News/Blog
July 31, 2010
Job Offered: Garden Mentor
July 25, 2010
The SGN School Food Committee is looking for mentors to support our grantee schools for the 2010-2011 school year. This is a paid position; 15 hours total for the school year (not per week) at $20 per hour. Application deadline is August 7. We are looking for three mentors.
Two new schools have received a Cooking in the Garden Grant and Salmon Creek is in their second year of the Salad Bar Grant. Please look here to learn more about the grants.
The mentor role is to help the grantee school create their budget for the school year, help them find nutrition and educational resources, support them in structuring the program according to the guidelines of the grant, and to make sure the garden is productive so the majority of the food they are using for cooking and the salad bar is coming from their garden.
If you have experience with school gardens, and would like to help support one of our grantee schools and earn a little extra money doing it, please contact Amber Napoleon at contactvw@hotmail.com, or 707-843-3029. This position starts in mid August and mentor training will be provided.
Salmon Creek School in Occidental grows huge west county vegetables
July 01, 2010
Kids from Salmon Creek School in Occidental grow the biggest cabbage in west county it seems, and the kids love it.
Laurel Malin is the Garden Coordinator at Salmon Creek and her photos of their garden and the kids who eat and learn from it are amazing.
The School Garden Network of Sonoma County gave Salmon Creek a $4000 Salad Bar grant for 2009-2010. We're so proud to support this school and be part of the food and fun their garden provides.
Salad Bar grants offer financial, material and mentoring support to increase student and staff access to healthy, fresh produce through a school salad bar, and to enhance the productivity of the school garden.
The next application period for the Salad Bar grant is February 13, 2011 – April 03, 2011.
New Grants Awarded to Mary Collins and Anova Center for Education school
June 15, 2010
Amber Napoleon from the School Garden Network is pleased to announce SGN has awarded Cooking in the Garden grants to the Anova Center for Education (ACE) school and the Mary Collins School at Cherry Valley. The grants are $2000 each, and the schools can use them for cooking equipment and supplies, nutrition education materials, biodegradable utensils/plates/bowls and food from locals farms.
The Cooking in the Garden grants offer financial, material and mentoring support to encourage nutrition education and healthy cooking by using seasonal food grown in the school garden and/or by local farms. The goal is to increase student consumption of fresh produce and other whole foods, develop skills in preparing healthy meals, raise awareness of local food systems, and support local agriculture.
Both Mary Collins and ACE schools are receiving their grants for the first time. The first funds will be disbursed August 1 for the 2010-2011 school year. Previous recipients of the Cooking in the Garden grant have been Healdsburg Elementary, Valley of the Moon Children’s Community School, and Northwest Preparatory Academy.
Next year's application period will be February 13, 2011 – April 03, 2011. Check our web site for details.
Thank You Exchange Bank!
June 10, 2010
We would like to acknowledge Exchange Bank for their recent donation of $2,500 to the School Garden Network. We appreciate this very generous donation which will be used to support garden and nutrition based learning to students in Sonoma County.
Please read more about Exchange Bank's Community Commitment HERE.
Thousands To Plant 350 Waterwise Food Gardens In Sonoma County MAY 15-16, 2010
May 11, 2010
On a single weekend, May 15-16, thousands will come together to transform 350+ Sonoma County landscapes into bountiful gardens which will save water, link local food production and carbon savings, grow food and habitat, promote greywater, and encourage lawn to food transformations. The 350 Garden Challenge is inspired in part by the 350.org international campaign to find and implement solutions to climate change.
The initiative, which also seeks to educate and empower community and support local businesses, is a collaboration of Daily Acts, iGROW Sonoma, GoLocal, and Living Mandala, in conjunction with the Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA) and dozens of other community groups and companies. The 350 Garden Challenge will strengthen existing projects and encourage new gardeners in efforts to save water, unite neighborhoods, and build a strong movement for local food production. Garden sites and participation is coordinated online and in individual community meetings and events.
“Sonoma County’s 350 Garden Challenge seeks to inspire our citizens to create a healthy, homegrown food supply, save water and cut greenhouse gas emissions,” said Trathen Heckman, Director of Daily Acts, a Petaluma-based nonprofit that provides education about greywater, home food production, and a range of sustainable living skills. ”Together, we will lead the way to a healthier, more self-sufficient community.” Homegrown food reduces carbon emissions from transportation and promotes awareness about where food comes from.
Key projects to be undertaken over the weekend include:
- On the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day, April 22, 2010, 20 members of the U.S. Coast Guard revitalized a garden at Burbank Heights Apartments in Sebastopol; community members will plant this garden on May 15th and 16th.
- Green Sangha, a nonprofit group of environmental activists, will install a model garden at Community Market natural foods store near Santa Rosa Junior College.
- Wine barrels, plants, and soil will be distributed to the nonprofit community organization Nuestra Voz to install container gardens at 60 households at Spring Village, a low-income housing complex in Boyes Hot Springs.
“Now is the time for our community to take action and embrace the concept of growing food locally,” said SCWA Chairwoman Valerie Brown. SCWA Director Shirlee Zane added, “The Water Agency is proud to partner with the 350 Challenge because it aligns with our water conservation efforts and illustrates how water should be used efficiently outdoors.” SCWA has provided a generous $25,000 matching grant for this project.
“In Sonoma County, the more we raise awareness about local, sustainable food, we’re also reinforcing a local identity rich in diverse nurseries, irrigation suppliers, restaurants and food producers. This isn’t just a passing fad, we’re directly strengthening our existing local economy,” said Kelley Rajala, Director of the Sonoma County GoLocal Cooperative, a network of locally owned businesses, non-profit organizations and residents.
Inspired by this initiative, The Victory Garden Foundation in Oakland, CA aims to match Sonoma County’s Challenge and install 350 gardens over the same weekend in May.
Download a flyer for more information.
Contact: Erin Axelrod, 707.789.9664
School Garden Network joins the Human Race!
May 03, 2010
On May 8, 2010, the School Garden Network will be participating in the 29th Annual Human Race. We have a team of runners and walkers participating in both the 3k and 10k portions of the race, as well as a group of volunteers staffing our own booth at the Human Race Marketplace.
The race starts and ends at Herbert Slater Middle School and takes runners and walkers through Howarth Park and Spring Lake in Santa Rosa, CA. The Marketplace is located at the finish line at Herbert Slater and is filled with booths from organizations throughout Sonoma County.
If you would like to join our team of walkers and runners, or you would like to make a sponsorship donation to our Human Race team, please follow this link.
Thank you for helping us support school gardens and nutrition education throughout Sonoma County.
350 GARDEN CHALLENGE SEEKS TO ADDRESS FOOD SECURITY, WATER CONSERVATION, AND CLIMATE CHANGE
April 16, 2010
Thousands To Plant 350 Waterwise Food Gardens In Sonoma County MAY 15-16, 2010
On a single weekend, May 15-16, thousands will come together to transform 350+ Sonoma County landscapes into bountiful gardens which will save water, link local food production and carbon savings, grow food and habitat, promote greywater, and encourage lawn to food transformations. The 350 Garden Challenge is inspired in part by the 350.org international campaign to find and implement solutions to climate change.
The initiative, which also seeks to educate and empower community and support local businesses, is a collaboration of Daily Acts, iGROW Sonoma, GoLocal, and Living Mandala, in conjunction with the Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA) and dozens of other community groups and companies. The 350 Garden Challenge will strengthen existing projects and encourage new gardeners in efforts to save water, unite neighborhoods, and build a strong movement for local food production. Garden sites and participation is coordinated online and in individual community meetings and events.
“Sonoma County’s 350 Garden Challenge seeks to inspire our citizens to create a healthy, homegrown food supply, save water and cut greenhouse gas emissions,” said Trathen Heckman, Director of Daily Acts, a Petaluma-based nonprofit that provides education about greywater, home food production, and a range of sustainable living skills. ”Together, we will lead the way to a healthier, more self-sufficient community.” Homegrown food reduces carbon emissions from transportation and promotes awareness about where food comes from.
Key projects to be undertaken over the weekend include:
- On the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day, April 22, 2010, 20 members of the U.S. Coast Guard will revitalize a garden at Burbank Heights Apartments in Sebastopol; community members will plant this garden on May 15th and 16th.
- Green Sangha, a nonprofit group of environmental activists, will install a model garden at Community Market natural foods store near Santa Rosa Junior College.
- Wine barrels, plants, and soil will be distributed to the nonprofit community organization Nuestra Voz to install container gardens at 60 households at Spring Village, a low-income housing complex in Boyes Hot Springs.
“Now is the time for our community to take action and embrace the concept of growing food locally,” said SCWA Chairwoman Valerie Brown. SCWA Director Shirlee Zane added, “The Water Agency is proud to partner with the 350 Challenge because it aligns with our water conservation efforts and illustrates how water should be used efficiently outdoors.” SCWA has provided a generous $25,000 matching grant for this project.
“In Sonoma County, the more we raise awareness about local, sustainable food, we’re also reinforcing a local identity rich in diverse nurseries, irrigation suppliers, restaurants and food producers. This isn’t just a passing fad, we’re directly strengthening our existing local economy,” said Kelley Rajala, Director of the Sonoma County GoLocal Cooperative, a network of locally owned businesses, non-profit organizations and residents.
Inspired by this initiative, The Victory Garden Foundation in Oakland, CA aims to match Sonoma County’s Challenge and install 350 gardens over the same weekend in May. In Santa Monica, the third annual 100 Garden Challenge pioneered by Gardens of Gratitude will take place April 24th and 25th, 2010.
Download a flyer for more information.
Contact: Erin Axelrod, 707.789.9664
350 Garden Challenge- May 15-16 2010
March 23, 2010
On a single weekend, May 15-16, 350 Sonoma County landscapes will be transformed into bountiful gardens!
Gardens save water and carbon emissions, grow food and habitat, and promote greywater and low-impact development, all while educating and empowering community and supporting local businesses. The 350 Challenge is an opportunity to create innovative gardens on front yards, apartment patios, school and church grounds, and business premises.
Join SGN in promoting school gardens by signing up your garden (register your garden project), volunteering in a garden, or more!
Download a flyer for more information.
Nourish- What's the Story of Your Food?
March 23, 2010
Join SGN and The Seed Bank for a screening of the film Nourish:
Wednesday, March 24th 2010, 7-8:30 pm
Location: The Seed Bank
199 Petaluma Blvd. North, Petaluma, CA 94952
About the Film: With beautiful visuals and inspiring stories, Nourish traces our relationship to food from a global perspective to personal action steps.
Download and distribute a flyer for more information.
Grant Announcement- Cooking from the Garden Grant
March 09, 2010
The School Garden Network is offering a $2,000 Cooking from the Garden Grant for the 2010-2011 school year. Go to our Grants Page for more information.
This grant is now closed. Check back soon, or join our yahoogroup (on the 'get involved' tab above) to receive notifications of our open grants.
Fresh: The Movie at Salmon Creek School
March 01, 2010
Join us on Thursday, March 8th- Come out and meet our local farmers, enjoy a local farm fresh salad bar, and view the new movie "Fresh" at this fundraiser for Salmon Creek School's farm to cafeteria project. This movie is great!
Download and print out a flyer here.
Thursday, March 8th
Salmon Creek School
1935 Bohemian Hwy, Occidental
5:30- Dinner
6:30- Movie
Childcare available for ages 8 and under.
SGN Featured in Press Democrat Blog
January 20, 2010
The School Garden Network has been featured in the Press Democrat's "Green Living" blog!
Read the articles here:
School Garden Network of Sonoma County
Harmony School Garden is a Winner
Thank you Nicole Zimmerman, former SGN Board Member, for putting these together!
Growing in the Geyserville School Garden
January 06, 2010
The following is a glowing report from Geyserville School Garden's SGN Mentor, Vanessa Tavernetti. Every SGN grantee school is assigned a SGN mentor, who supports and provides resources to the grantee school, as well as reporting on the garden's success to the SGN Board.
Geyserville Elementary School
Fall 2009
The garden program at Geyserville School is in its third year of SGN funding. This year students began working in the garden at the beginning of October. Garden clean-up was completed first to make the garden student safe and ready for use. The new Garden Instructor is Connie Soldate.
Connie works with each of the 6 classes individually each week in the garden for 40 minutes. The school has allocated an indoor classroom for garden instruction, and that is were Connie begins her classes. Students focus on science-focused curriculum (incorporating state standards) in the classroom before they go out to the garden. The day I was there the first grade students were creating mobiles on plant nutrients (sun, soil, water, air) before they went to the garden. Then they went out and each measured their plant they have been tracking since it was a seedling, recording the data in their garden journal.
When I asked some of the students if and why they liked garden class some responses included, “Yes!” And, “I like to watch the plants grow.” Or, “I like to be outside,” and “I like to dig.”
The second class I observed was 4th graders. The students were working on their plant research report. Every student had chosen a plant and had time in garden and library class to research their plant. They will begin writing their reports soon, in collaboration with teachers who see that the garden is a great way to also incorporate writing. I accompanied the 4th graders as they went to the garden and measured their plant. In the greenhouse, they are growing the plants which they are writing their reports on.
Connie is gearing up to cook with the students. She is harvesting their winter crop with the day care students and has made arrangements to have the central food service kitchen incorporate these vegetables into the lunch program (the whole district has 250 students, making this possible). Connie plans to cook more with students in the winter months after break.
The Garden Committee is still going strong (about 6 parents, 2 teachers, and the principal) and usually meets every month. They have many goals: fundraising, adding another day of teaching, installing plaques for fruit trees, and building community partnerships. Most of the donations and partnerships that have been made are in-kind donations (plants, soil, seeds).
A next step for this site is to invite Medlock-Ames (a major donor to SGN and the Geyserville School Garden) for a tour. The garden looks the best I have ever seen it and the children were very engaged.
Vanessa Tavernetti
SGN Mentor, Geyserville
Dear School Garden Network supporter:
December 21, 2009
The Board of the School Garden Network of Sonoma County would like to wish you and yours a Happy Holiday. 2009 has been a tough year for Americans, and particularly for non-profits. So as we say goodbye to 2009, we are glad to see signs of improvement in 2010.
As the year ends, we'd like you to consider an end-of-year donation of any amount to SGN. I know we already have your support, but I'd like to remind you of what we are up against.
- The CDC (Center for Disease Control) reports that 18% of US children ages 6-19 (1 out of 5) are obese, rising 300% since 1976.
- In California, they project that it will cost $7.7 billion in medical expenses to treat obesity and diabetes related illnesses ($100 billion nationally).
By supporting and collaborating with local schools, the School Garden Network is working to reverse these trends by teaching children about the relationship between fresh food, gardening and nutrition.
We are:
- Directly supporting projects at 13 local schools
- Impacting over 7,000 students
- Offering county wide resources and networking
- $1000-$2000 cash prize
- Recognition in CFAITC electronic publication Cream of the Crop and other media
- Expense paid trip to the 2010 National AITC Conference (Baltimore, MD)
- Expense paid trip to the 2010 California Farm Bureau Federation Annual Meeting (Monterey, CA)
- Expense paid trip to the 2010 California AITC Conference (Location TBD)
- School Gardens (indoor or outdoor)
- School Farms
- Recycling/Composting
- Water Management
- Agriculture or Farm Days
- Nutrition Education
- Environmental Education
- And much more!
- Tour of the garden begins at 4:00
- "Linking the GARDEN & CLASSROOM" by SCDS Garden Coordinator Tina Poles
- Update from SGN Board
- Group share out
- Seed and Plant Exchange
- have been a current, working school garden during the 2008-2009 school year.
- belong to a California public, private or charter school. A school teaching any student age (grades K-12) is welcome to apply.
- be used as an instructional tool to enhance academic curriculum.
- produce at least some edible plants in the school garden to help students understand where their food comes from.
- have been sustained for a minimum of two years.
- Academic Achievement
- Healthy Lifestyles
- Environmental Stewardship
- Community and Social Development
- How the garden has been sustained over time
- Integration of the garden into the school culture
- How the school overcame barriers to create and sustain the garden
- Partnerships
- Creativity
- Youth participation from planning to harvesting
- Parent involvement
- Use of resources
- Community involvement
- Public recognition and award presentation at the California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom Conference Luncheon on Saturday, October 24, 2009 in Rohnert Park (Sonoma County). Two representatives of the winning school garden will receive complimentary tickets to attend the luncheon where they will be honored.
- Will be featured on the CSGN and First Lady’s websites.
- A personal letter, signed photo and certificate from Governor Schwarzenegger and First Lady Maria Shriver.
- A personalized plaque for the winning garden.
- Public recognition and award presentation at the location of choice by a CSGN representative. Venues may include (but are not limited to) School Board/PTA Meetings, School Assemblies, City Council Meetings, Civic Service Organization Meetings (Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions, etc.)
- Schedules and conducts several visits to school sites; prepares brief written reports
- Provides grantee Garden Education Coordinator with all necessary SGN documents and delivers to SGN
- Solicits photos, photo releases & other program materials for SGN website and marketing
- Provides updates to SGN as requested
- Serving as an adviser and consultant
- Identifying and modeling best practices from successful school garden programs and/or the mentor’s own experience and training
- Assisting with goal setting and visioning
- Assisting with strategic planning, garden committee development, garden program budget, volunteer and/or teacher recruitment
- Identifying and sharing resources
And doing this with a $30,000 annual budget!
We are asking for your financial support to continue and expand our services.
Go to our online donation page to donate with a credit card or through PayPal. Thinking of making your donation a gift? See the link on that page to download a printable gift donation certificate.
Thank you for considering an end-of-year, tax deductible donation.
Happy Holidays!
Larry Martin, Board Member
School Garden Network
PO Box 6274
Santa Rosa, CA 95406
(707) 874-1557
info@schoolgardens.org
The School Garden Network Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) Non-profit Tax ID #86-1147121
Petaluma Jr High Garden and Culinary Program on CSGN website
November 19, 2009
SGN is mentioned as a regional supporter for Petaluma Jr High's culinary program in this CSGN web article.
From the 'Best Practices in Middle School Gardens' section of the California School Garden Network website. Article linked from SF Green School Yard Alliance newsletter.
CSGN Announces Winner of the First-Ever "SCHOOL GARDEN OF THE YEAR AWARD"
November 03, 2009
The California School Garden Network (CSGN) announced last week that Louisiana Schnell School’s Garden of Learning (in Placerville, California) is the first-ever winner of the California School Garden of the Year Award. The award recognizes leaders and innovators in California instructional school gardens.
“Our garden is indeed a living laboratory, where we see and touch our academic subjects. Math, science, language arts, history, nutrition, environmental education, music, physical education, art – anything you teach in a classroom can also be taught in a garden,” said Kelli Wessman, Louisiana Schnell School’s garden coordinator. “The garden is also a place to nurture community spirit, common purpose, and cultural appreciation by building bridges among students, school staff, families, local business, and organizations. I am humbled and honored to receive this award on behalf of our students and our school for the work that we all love to do.”
“School gardens are making an extraordinary difference in the lives of California students,” said Tim Alderson, CSGN’s chairman. “Kids are eating the fruits and vegetables they grow, making actual connections to food and our natural environment, and their academic lessons in science, math and other subjects are taking on real-life meaning before their own eyes; it’s the ultimate teaching tool.”
Louisiana Schnell School’s Garden of Learning will receive A $500 cash prize, an engraved stone plaque for the garden, a certificate of achievement signed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and First Lady Maria Shriver, a full scholarship to attend California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom’s Conference for Educators, and a $100 Home Depot gift card, along with other gardening tools and supplies.
A panel of representatives from agriculture education organizations selected the winning school garden and five honorable mentions from a pool of 38 public, private, continuation and charter schools at the elementary, middle and high school levels.
Salmon Creek Charter School’s Harmony Garden (School Garden Network of Sonoma County's own grantee school), was identified as one of the five honorable mentions.
Literacy For Life Teaching Awards
November 03, 2009
California Foundation for Agriculture In The Classroom (CFAITC) is now accepting nominations and applications for the 2010 Literacy for Life Teaching Awards, sponsored by the Oreggia Family Foundation. If you (or one of your colleagues) effectively connect your students to agricultural experiences in your classroom, they would like to hear about it!
Depending on award category, winning teachers may receive:
Please visit www.cfaitc.org to complete the simple nomination and/or application form. The deadline for applications is December 1, 2009. Individuals need not be nominated to apply.
Administrators who nominate a teacher will automatically receive CFAITC resources for their entire school and will be entered into a drawing to receive a free registration for the 2010 California AITC Conference. Please include detailed information about your school.
Teaching agriculture in the classroom includes:
Artisano: Event Saturday, November 14 to Benefit School Gardens
October 25, 2009
Artisano, a celebration of small production, locally handcrafted wine, food and art, will take place from 12-5 p.m. on November 14 on the lawn area of the Geyserville Inn with beautiful panoramic vineyard and mountain views.
The beneficiary of the event is Slow Food Sonoma County, North. A portion of revenue generated will help fund the convivium’s School Garden Project in elementary schools in Cloverdale, Geyserville, Healdsburg, Windsor, and Santa Rosa. The goal is to help each school create and maintain a school garden with support and resources from Slow Food. More information about Slow Food Sonoma County, North and the School Garden Project may be found at www.slowfoodsonomacounty.org.
Admission to ARTISANO is $75 per person in advance and $90 per person the day of the event, if available. For more info on the event and to purchase tickets, please go to www.artisano.org.
SGN to present at AITC State-Wide Conference Oct. 24th
October 10, 2009
SGN Board Members Lisa Preschel and Vanessa Passarelli will be presenting at the 2009 California Agriculture in the Classroom Conference, Oct 24th at 11:15 am in Rohnert Park, CA.
The workshop, titled School Garden Activities and Ideas was one of the first to fill.
From the workshop description:
Learn how to start and grow a school garden from veterans in the field. We will “transplant” topics such as the many ways to start a school garden program, program models, curriculum links to State Standards and resources. Participants will leave feeling inspired and equipped with the right tools to take back to their school to build and/or support a successful program. We will also share fun and exciting garden lessons on nutrition, science and ecology. Discover how to make your students academically stronger, nutritionally wise and environmentally aware!
Presenters:Lisa Preschel, Occidental Arts and Ecology Center School Garden Program Director, School Garden Network of Sonoma County
Vanessa Passarelli, Community and School Garden Coordinator, Petaluma City Schools District, School Garden Network of Sonoma County
A Gathering of the Harvest: Networking Event for Sonoma County School Garden Programs
September 30, 2009
With regret we have canceled the School Garden Networking Event. Please let SGN know if this type of event would be of interest and what would be useful to include for your program. SGN would like to continue to offer low cost skills based workshops for school garden programs in Sonoma County. We are looking for a few folks to be on a steering committee to develop and coordinate these efforts.
Date: October 28th- 4:00-6:00
Location: Sonoma Country Day School, 4400 Day School Place Santa Rosa, CA 95403
Join us for a chance to meet with fellow school gardeners to discuss ways to collaborate and enhance our garden programs. Share best practices, seasonal recipes, favorite lessons and local resources. Potluck dinner- share a dish you’ve made in your garden! Bring a bottle of wine to share!
Presentations/discussions will include:
*Bring 25 copies of a favorite lesson or recipe to share.*
Please RSVP to Laurel Anderson by October 21st:
laurelmalin@earthlink.net 508-9710
Presented by School Garden Network of Sonoma County
2009 CSGN School Garden of the Year -Enter your school garden!
September 24, 2009
The California School Garden Network "School Garden of the Year" Award will go to the California school garden that best represents the mission of CSGN: To create and sustain California school gardens to enhance Academic Achievement, A Healthy Lifestyle, Environmental Stewardship and Community and Social Development.
Enter your school garden or supply an entry for someone else's garden! The first annual California School Garden of the Year award is a great way to spread awareness of the great programs throughout the state.
Eligibility, Awards, and Criteria
Eligibility:
Open to California public, private, and charter schools, grades K-12, with instructional garden programs. Gardens should be used for academic instruction and must contain some form of edible crops. School gardens in existence for less than two years are not eligible.
Judging Criteria:
Gardens will be judged by a panel of CSGN affiliates according to the criteria stated below. School Gardens must meet minimum eligibility requirements to be considered by judges.
School gardens must:
Enhancement of student education (50%)
Successful demonstration of how the school garden has enhanced:
Sustainability (35%)
Successful demonstration of school garden sustainability and potential for longevity over time.
Other (15%)
Awards:
All teachers/group leaders who enter the contest will receive a certificate of participation signed by First Lady Maria Shriver and the Chair of the California School Garden Network (CSGN).
The school garden receiving the highest score will be recognized as the 2009 CSGN School Garden of the Year. The winner will receive the following awards and recognition:
The 5 school gardens with the next highest scores will be featured on the CSGN website and receive a personal letter from First Lady Maria Shriver and the Chair of the California School Garden Network.
Other prizes to be announced.
Apply online at http://www.csgn.org/2009Application.php/
Applications are due by 5 pm, Friday, October 2, 2009
Kendall Jackson Tomato Festival benefits School Garden Network
September 05, 2009
The 13th Annual Kendall-Jackson Heirloom Tomato Festival will be held on Saturday, September 12, 2009 from 11am - 4pm. More than 170 varieties of heirloom tomatoes in every size, shape and color imaginable will be picked fresh from our own Culinary Gardens and sampled on a beautiful Wine Country afternoon.
The festival, which raises money for the School Garden Network of Sonoma County, is held on the lawn and in the walnut grove behind the Chateau at the Kendall-Jackson Wine Center. Attendees experience the food of gourmet food purveyors, a Food & Wine magazine Best New Chef's Challenge, Bruschetta Boulevard, wine and garden education seminars, a tomato growing contest, garden tours and live entertainment. All paired with Kendall-Jackson wines.
Come enjoy wonderful food and wine, and say hello to SGN Board Members at the School Garden Network booth.
View a video of the 2008 Tomato Festival at SonomaUncorked.com.
Register your Labor Day potluck and support quality food in school lunches
September 01, 2009
School Garden Network is working with Slow Food USA regional chapters to organize a National Eat-In on Labor Day, Sept. 7, 2009.
This fall Congress will decide whether to update the Child Nutrition Act. The law determines what more than 30 million children, who participate in the National School Lunch Program, eat each day. Communities throughout Sonoma County and all across America will gather for public potlucks to raise awareness and send a clear message to our nation’s leaders: It’s time to provide America’s children with real food at school!
The USDA currently reimburses schools $2.57 for each meal served to a student who qualifies for free lunch. Most of this funding covers labor, equipment and overhead costs – but less than $1 goes toward actual ingredients. A campaign goal is to invest one more dollar per school lunch, allocated to providing fresh foods that benefit the health of our children. The campaign also pushes for the government to provide mandatory funding to teach children healthy eating habits through innovative farm-to-school programs and school gardens.
We want to insure that this important issue is brought to the attention of our legislators and the media. Whether you are a parent, educator, administrator, school garden coordinator or community partner, we’d like to ask you to work with your school community to organize a potluck on September 7th.
This Eat-in can be as simple and small as you like. The point is to bring people together, sign the petition to reform the Child Nutrition Act and register the Eat-In at Slow Food’s "Time for Lunch" website (including an event tool kit). The more Pot Lucks, the more attention and press the issue will receive. SGN board members will attend an Eat-in at LandPaths’ Bayer Farm in Santa Rosa’s Roseland district, with a table showcasing SGN programs that support children’s health through instructional garden- and nutrition-based education programs. Please let us know if you organize a potluck/Eat-in: info@schoolgardens.org
Healdsburg Tribune article on SGN Food Grant
August 16, 2009
Our recent grant to Healdsburg Elementary School was highlighted in this article from The Healdsburg Tribune.
Vikki DuRee, teacher at Healdsburg Elementary School, explained the point of SGN's School Food grants:
Students will prepare simple food from fresh ingredients at the garden, all the while learning different recipes and learning about things such as what foods give them energy and which foods are body builders, DuRee said.
“It’s really the vehicle for nutritional education,” DuRee said. “Rather than talking about nutrition, the kids are experiencing it and tasting it. It’s a hands-on way they experience it directly.”
Click Here to read the article.
Medlock Ames donates $5,000 to SGN!
August 09, 2009
Medlock Ames Winery has donated $5,000 to SGN. These funds will directly support Geyserville Elementary School for the 2009/2010 school year through SGN’s Garden-Based Education grant. In its third year of grant funding and mentoring from SGN, Geyserville Elementary will continue to expand their instructional school garden and utilize local resources to make the program more financially sustainable.
Medlock Ames Winery, which uses sustainable farming practices, will partner with SGN to provide an ongoing source of funding for school garden projects in northern Sonoma County. In addition to the Geyserville grant, through an innovative program winery owners Ames Morison and Christopher Medlock James will donate a portion of the fees from their new tasting room in Alexander Valley to the School Garden Network.
Click here to learn more about Medlock Ames.
Thank you Medlock Ames!
Exchange Bank Donates $2,500 to SGN
August 02, 2009
Another big thanks to Exchange Bank, who recently donated a second $2,500 grant to SGN. We are very grateful for their continued support of school gardens and nutrition based learning in Sonoma County!
Please read more about Exchange Bank's Community Commitment HERE.
Free Community Seed Exchange & Gardening Class July 25th
July 14, 2009
Inviting all interested gardeners to join in cultivating a grassroots community seed bank that supports Sonoma County gardeners with free, locally grown, open pollinated, pesticide and GMO free seeds.
Saturday, July 25th 10am - 1pm (Drop in any time/kids welcome) "Planning for your Winter Garden" 10:30-11:30
Salmon Creek School Garden 1935 Bohemian Hwy, Occidental
Seed & Plant Exchange also and at noon a local food potluck!
Hosted by the West County Community Seed Bank, a grassroots organization that meets monthly to share seeds, plants, resources and local gardening information. For more information: Sara Mc Camant 829-5234 or saramc@emeraldearth.org
SGN featured in Press Democrat article
July 09, 2009
The article focuses on recently announced SGN grantee schools for 2009-2010, as well as our organization, mission, and Community Partners.
Click Here to view the article.
Thank you Meg McConahey and the Press Democrat!
SGN receives $10,000 from Community Foundation
June 19, 2009
The School Garden Network of Sonoma County (SGN) has been awarded two separate grants: $5,000 from the Semilla Fund of Community Foundation Sonoma County, and $5,000 from the Mayflower Fund of Community Foundation Sonoma County.
These generous donations will support SGN’s commitment to Garden-Based and Nutrition Education programs in Sonoma County. As we look forward to our next granting cycle and school year, it is fabulous that we have Community Foundation support to improve our resources and funding for local school gardens.
Thank you to the Semilla Fund and the Mayflower Fund, and Community Foundation Sonoma County!
To download the press release (.pdf) click here.
School Garden Mentors Wanted
June 16, 2009
The School Garden Network is looking for school garden Mentors to provide support to grantee schools for 2009-2010. Mentors are paid a stipend of $20/hour (for a maximum of 20 hours per school year). Working closely with the Garden-based Education Committee, which awards and oversees instructional garden grants in Sonoma County schools, a Mentor assists with grant program implementation and serves as a liaison between SGN and the school. Mandatory training will be offered in August.
MENTOR RESPONSIBILITIES:
As relevant to the individual school, Mentor provides support through avenues that may include:
Please reply, with 2-3 phone references, to gcgrant@schoolgardens.org by July 10. Highlight any skills you have in gardening/farming, teaching and/or environmental education, as well as volunteer experience or work with community-based organizations or schools. School Garden Education Coordinators are especially encouraged to respond!
SGN Grant Recipients announced for 2009-2010 school year!
May 25, 2009
Congratulations to the following schools, our grant recipients for the 2009-2010 school year! Thank you to everyone who applied- we wish we could have funded you all.
Our grant recipients for the 2009-2010 school year are:
Garden-Based Education Grant:
Apple Blossom School, Sebastopol $5,000
McKinley Elementary School, Petaluma $5,000
Cooking From the Garden Grant:
Healdsburg Elementary School, Healdsburg $2,000
Salad Bar Grant:
Salmon Creek School, Occidental $4,000
To download our press release (.pdf) click here. For more information about SGN grants, visit our grants page.Recent plant sales support SGN and School Gardens
May 12, 2009
Several plant sales over the last month have raised hundreds of dollars for the School Garden Network and local school gardens.
On May 2, SGN participated in Kendall-Jackson's annual Heirloom Tomato plant sale, a prequel to their Heirloom Tomato Festival which occurs each September. The School Garden Network sold many varieties of herbs and vegetables, donated by Petaluma High School. KJ sold starts of their famous heirloom tomatoes and graciously donated the extra tomato plants to Sonoma County school gardens after the sale.
Six Petaluma schools also hosted their own plant sales, offering an assortment of vegetables, herbs, more than 15 varieties of tomatoes, flowers, and much more. In preparation, Petaluma High School students transplanted over 3,000 plants! Plants were also donated by Jail Industries, Petaluma Garden Club, Buckeye Nursery, and Flicker Farm. Other schools with recent plant sales include Willowside School and Guerneville School.
SGN at Whole Foods Events
May 07, 2009
School Garden Network recently participated in two Whole Foods "Earth Day" events in April. At the Sebastopol Whole Foods, SGN Board members enjoyed a sunny day promoting school gardens in Sonoma County. For the Santa Rosa Whole Foods event, Sweetwater Organics Nursery from Sebastopol donated beautiful basil plants. Children and adults alike were excited about planting them in a pot and taking them home. Thank You Sweetwater! And Thank You to both Whole Foods for inviting School Garden Network!
Grantee Schools will be announced soon!
April 08, 2009
Thank you to all the schools who applied for our 2009-2010 school year grants. Grantee schools will be announced soon.
Salad Bar and Cooking from the Garden Grants Announced
February 13, 2009
Click HERE to go to the SGN Grants page for more information.
SGN Featured in West County Gazette
January 22, 2009
The School Garden Network is featured in the current issue of the West County Gazette!
Below is an excerpt; Click Here to read the entire article online.
School Garden Network Supports Local Programs
Ashourina Woods, garden coordinator at Geyserville Elementary, understands the pressures today’s classroom teachers face. To help them address state educational standards, she integrates math, science, reading and writing into her part-time K-5 garden curriculum. “I never had a child who didn’t want to go to the garden,” she admits proudly.
Aside from connecting children with nature through project-based learning, what do these school garden programs have in common? Much of their success is based on support from the School Garden Network of Sonoma County, mainly in the form of grant funding and mentorship.
Thank the editor of the West County Gazette for featuring our article! Her address is: vesta@sonic.net
Garden-Based Education Grant Announced
January 15, 2009
The School Garden Network invites schools in Sonoma County to apply for a Garden-Based Education Grant to support their instructional school garden program.
Click HERE to go to the SGN Grants page for more information.
Kendall-Jackson Donates $10,000 to SGN
December 17, 2008
The School Garden Network of Sonoma County announces that it has been awarded $10,000 from the proceeds of the Kendall Jackson Winery’s Twelfth Annual Heirloom Tomato Festival.
THANK YOU Kendall-Jackson for your continued generous support!
The Kendall Jackson Festival celebrates more than 170 varieties of heirloom tomatoes picked fresh from the wineries own Culinary Gardens. The Festival has always benefited school garden programs and since 2004, a portion of the proceeds from the Festival have been donated to the School Garden Network, enabling SGN to support instructional school garden projects in Sonoma County.
Download the Press Release HERE.
THANK YOU
Exchange Bank!
November 18, 2008
We would like to acknowledge Exchange Bank for their recent donation of $2,500 to the School Garden Network. We appreciate this very generous donation which will be used to support garden and nutrition based learning to students in Sonoma County.
Please read more about Exchange Bank's Community Commitment HERE.
School Garden Co.'s Body Care Products
November 18, 2008
Petaluma-based School Garden Company makes organic body care products, perfect for gift giving as stocking stuffers, teacher gifts, family and friends.
This holiday season, you can support the School Garden Network and give these beautiful, practical handmade gifts.
*Use the coupon code SGN08 when placing your online order and the school garden network will receive 50% of product total. This coupon expires on December 31st.
Click HERE to go to their website.
Kendall-Jackson and the School Garden Network featured in the Community Voice
September 29, 2008
The Kendall-Jackson Heirloom Tomato Festival and the School Garden Network are featured in The Community Voice!
Click HERE to see the article.
SGN at Kendall-Jackson Heirloom Tomato Festival
September 29, 2008
Here are a few pictures of our booth at the Tomato Festival.
THANK YOU
Kendall-Jackson!
September 04, 2008
The 12th Annual Kendall-Jackson Heirloom Tomato Festival
Saturday, September 6, 2008 • 11am - 4pm
Sold Out!
The 12th Annual Kendall-Jackson Heirloom Tomato Festival takes place on Saturday, September 6, 2008 from 11am - 4pm. More than 170 varieties of heirloom tomatoes in every size, shape and color imaginable are featured, picked fresh from our own Culinary Gardens and sampled on a beautiful Wine Country afternoon.
The festival, which raises money for the School Garden Network of Sonoma County, is held in the walnut grove behind the Chateau at the Kendall-Jackson Wine Center. Attendees experience the food of gourmet food purveyors, a Food & Wine magazine Best New Chef's Challenge, wine education seminars, a tomato growing contest, garden tours and live entertainment. All paired with Kendall-Jackson wines.
THANK YOU KENDALL-JACKSON!
Sebastopol Whole Foods EnviroCents!
July 31, 2008
We are proud to announce that the School Garden Network is the recipient of the Sebastopol Whole Foods' EnviroCents Change for Change program!
In addition to having donation jars at every register, we also receive 5 cents from donated bag credits. This means that any customer who brings their own bag has the option of donating their five cent bag credit directly to School Garden Network. When you go to Whole Foods Sebastopol, bring your own bag and tell them you want to donate your bag credit! Drop your change in the donation jar! Tell your friends, family, and co-workers!
A big thanks to Whole Foods Sebastopol for their support of our organization and mission. We are featured now through the month of September.
Cooking From the Garden Mini-Grant Recipients
June 22, 2008
We are very pleased to announce this year's recipients of our "Cooking From the Garden" Mini-Grants: Valley of the Moon Children's Community School -and- Career Academy at Piner Olivet High School. We conducted site visits and feel these schools have great vision. Congratulations!
May 3rd Plant Sale!
April 15, 2008
April 2008 (May 3rd Plant Sale!): A plant sale on May 3rd will take place to benefit a school garden near you. Each school will offer a variety of vegetable starts, heirloom tomatoes, herbs and perennials. Please come and support our programs.
Download the 2008 Plant Sale flyer (PDF)
'Cooking From the Garden' Mini-Grants
April 04, 2008
The School Garden Network is excited to announce two new mini-grants. See SGN Grants page for more information.
Get Down and Dirty in School Gardens!
December 28, 2007
Are you a Sonoma County school garden coordinator in need of volunteers or a volunteer looking for a school garden to assist? The School Garden Network wants to connect you!
Send your information to info@schoolgardens.org.
School garden coordinators, please send the following information:
* School name, address and city
* Contact person, e-mail and phone
* Days and times that volunteers are needed
* Projects for which you need volunteers
Volunteers, please send the following information:
* Name
* E-mail
* Phone
* City
* Any additional preferences or info that might help us to match you with the right opportunity
Happy gardening!
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