Program Encourages Green Thumb at California Schools
SAN FRANCISCO — State legislators approved spending $15 million per year on gardening programs at the state’s more than 6,000 schools, making California the first state to sponsor school garden initiatives.
Each school receives an average of $2,500 from the state, which is supplemented by donations from community organizations, such as parent-teacher associations, and fund raising by school districts.
Under the initiative, a new ecological seminar is being offered to Bay Area schools to change the way students learn about the environment at school and at home.
The program is a three-week session offered by the Occidental Arts and Ecology Center in Sonoma County during the summer months to teach educators and parents about eco-literacy, focusing on such topics as sustainable living, vegetarian cooking and gardening techniques.
At a cost of $500 per participant, 25 Bay Area schools took part in the seminar series, which ended in August.
Teachers and parent volunteers will incorporate lessons from the workshop into their school curricula this fall, teaching students how to eat more healthily, start and maintain a garden and practice sustainability.
Center officials are optimistic the seminar will raise awareness of school gardening programs and provide the skills necessary to start a garden or maintain an existing one. Of the 104 schools in the San Francisco school district, 81 plan to apply for funds to create a garden.
In addition to teaching students about ecological awareness, school gardens can provide a safe, natural environment for children to play in and explore, as well as establish a connection to nature for those who have grown up in a primarily urban environment, officials say.
School gardens are also part of an ongoing effort to address obesity among young children by offering healthy alternatives, such as fresh fruit and vegetables, to high-fat, calorie-laden school menu items.