New Sign! by LilySiebert
If you are looking for reasons to think Spring, look no farther than local schoolyards.
At least five new vegetable gardens are slated to break ground this year. In addition, the successful West Junior High Garden Project is planning an expansion.
Schools planning new gardens include:
- Central Junior High
- Corpus Christi Elementary
- Free Sate High School (both school and community gardens are planned)
- Hillcrest Elementary
- Sunset Hill Elementary
Because schools are short of funds, the financial resources and much of the expertise the gardens need will be provided by community partners and donors.
Central and Free State have secured grants from LiveWell Lawrence and lined up partnerships with local businesses including, respectively, Cottins Hardware and HyVee.
The Community Mercantile Education Foundation (CMEF), which helped start the West garden, has received an Assists Foundation grant to help expand it. This project also has secured major contributions from the Merc and Main Street Credit Union, and will fundraise to round out the budget.
CMEF has also lined up grants for Hillcrest and Sunset Hill from the Elizabeth Schultz Environmental Fund of DCCF, and from the state.
Glenda Easum, the farm to cafeteria coordinator with the Lawrence Public Schools Food Services, will be working with school kitchens to get some of this fresh local food onto kids' lunch trays.
Some garden projects also plan to set-up or participate in farmers markets to allow community members to buy from the student gardeners.
Leaders statewide have taken note of developments in Lawrence, and are watching our school garden movement with interest.
So next time you look out the window, take heart. It won't be long before the frozen tundra will give way to wonderful outdoor classrooms yielding fresh produce for our children.
Tagged: school gardens, Lawrence Public Schools, Corpus Christi school, farm to cafeteria, farmers market
Comments
kbritt (Karrey Britt) says…
Marilyn — Thanks for this wonderful update on school gardens!
Roger_Hill_Volunteer_Center (Lori Johns) says…
Great information Marilyn - thanks! The Volunteer Center is looking for environmental volunteer opportunities for our Youth Volunteer Corps "Summer of Service" program for 2011. Last year we had 10 middle-school aged youth volunteer 100 hours each and earn a $500 scholarship, and we hope to have at least that many this year. So, if anyone knows of good projects for them to take on, call us at (785) 865-5030. What we learned last year is that these youth work hard and are not afraid to get dirty!
Marilyn_Hull (Marilyn Hull) replies…
That's terrific. I will certainly spread the word!
Roger_Hill_Volunteer_Center (Lori Johns) says…
Great information Marilyn - thanks! The Volunteer Center is looking for environmental volunteer opportunities for our Youth Volunteer Corps "Summer of Service" program for 2011. Last year we had 10 middle-school aged youth volunteer 100 hours each and earn a $500 scholarship, and we hope to have at least that many this year. So, if anyone knows of good projects for them to take on, call us at (785) 865-5030. What we learned last year is that these youth work hard and are not afraid to get dirty!
Roger_Hill_Volunteer_Center (Lori Johns) says…
Great information Marilyn - thanks! The Volunteer Center is looking for environmental volunteer opportunities for our Youth Volunteer Corps "Summer of Service" program for 2011. Last year we had 10 middle-school aged youth volunteer 100 hours each and earn a $500 scholarship, and we hope to have at least that many this year. So, if anyone knows of good projects for them to take on, call us at (785) 865-5030. What we learned last year is that these youth work hard and are not afraid to get dirty!
Dunadan (Daniel Poull) says…
This is great news for the community, Marilyn. I look forward to visiting each of the gardens.
d_prowess (anonymous) says…
How about coming up with a complete list of schools that do this? I know Hilltop Child Development Center on KU's campus has one and they sell their produce in the Spring and Summer.