Our "Food, What?!" Youth Program was selected as one of four programs in the Good Times Community Fund.
We have the goal to raise $12,500 through the Good Times Community Fund. Right now, every dollar donated will be matched. Please Consider a Year-End Donation to Keep FoodWhat Going and Growing in 2012! Every bit counts–from $10 to $10,000–each contribution will keep us strong and supports local youth! 
View the … [Read More →]
We like our red worms that compost for us at the Garden Classroom. Here are some resources for you to learn and teach about red worms.
The Worm Guide: Vermicomposting Guide for Teachers From California Waste Management Board
Even More from CalRecycle
Our Worms Signs are a nice addition to your compost area
Learn to compost with worms. Our How to Compost with … [Read More →]
Many teachers break large groups of students into smaller groups in order to facilitate meaningful learning opportunities in the garden. By designing some activities that a small, supervised group of students can accomplish independently, teachers are able to divide their classes and engage small groups, one at a time, in in-depth scientific investigations while other students experience a more self-directed approach to learning. Toward this end, over the years we … [Read More →]
When we started planning the Garden Classroom, a bit over ten years ago, we envisioned days like this one. We have many days like this throughout the year, but on May 20th I kept my camera on hand as I worked with a group of community leaders from Mexico and Central America. The shots below are what I caught going on around us as we shared lessons, harvested, and … [Read More →]
Life Lab's Annual Benefit was so great this year that the local media came to make a video of it:-)
Greg Archer of the GoodTimes finds out what Life Lab is all about.
Back Pocket Garden Activities (View all ten activities from this player, click the "next" arrow to advance through the videos)
The following videos demonstrate what we, here at Life Lab, refer to as "back pocket activities." These are all quick, easy, and highly engaging activities that require minimal preparation. We suggest always having one or more of these activities ready to go (or "in your back pocket") in case your … [Read More →]
The Creating and Sustaining Your School Garden (CSYSG) Video Series is a part of the CSYSG Training Model. This workshop has been given to over a thousand educators in California and it includes the California School Garden Network's book Gardens for Learning, participant handouts, and trainer outlines.
These resources can used for those training others on starting school gardens or by those wanting to learn basic garden skills.
View the … [Read More →]
Learn to compost with worms. Video goes over selecting a container, starting a worm bin, caring and troubleshooting.
Worm Composting Basics http://www.compostsantacruzcounty.org/Home_Composting/Worm_Composting/index.htm
The Worm Guide: Vermicomposting Guide for Teachers http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/schools/Curriculum/Worms/default.htm
Additional Worm Composting Links http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/schools/Links/Garden.htm
http://www.compostsantacruzcounty.org/School_Composting/links.htm… [Read More →]
Eco Company TV created this video on our “Food, What?!” Spring Afterschool Internship. It aired across the nation on over 100 TV stations.
http://www.eco-company.tv/tvshow/episode-102-organic-growing… [Read More →]
Our 30th Birthday Party was celebrated in The Garden Classroom with over 450 people enjoying garden crafts, strawberry tarts, chickens, goats, fresh squeezed lemonade, The Banana Slug String Band, garden fresh pizza, honey tasting, and of course a huge birthday cake. Check out the video.… [Read More →]
As part of our 30th Birthday we hosted a video contest. The theme of the contest was “How does the garden help you grow?” See more information, runner ups and link to all the entries here: www.lifelab.org/contest.php
Here is the winning video:
First Prize Winner: Growing in the Garden – The Orchard School
We liked the rhythm and rhyme and sights and sounds of their poetic production. Not your average school … [Read More →]
They really have something great going at Pacific Elementary School in Davenport, CA. Since 1984 the Food Lab Program, in cooperation with the school's Life Lab Garden Program, has been cooking the school lunch for students and staff!… [Read More →]
KSBW TV News was on hand at our 2008 Harvest Fest that served hundreds of Middle and High School Students from Santa Cruz County. Check out their news report and how the reporters were trying to get the right inflection on the words “FOOOOD…..WHHAT!!!??!!!”
See festival highlights below taken from the “Food, What?!” Blog
… [Read More →]
Garden instructor Jane Forbes of Westlake K-5 in Santa Cruz, CA teaches 2nd graders about compost. This 13 minute video is created from a 45 minute lesson of children learning about decomposition by sifting composting and exploring the garden.… [Read More →]
Taken from the Santa Cruz Sentinel Article “County students dig in at ‘Strawberry Blast””:
Nearly 100 students from across the county traveled to the UC Santa Cruz Farm and Garden Friday to learn about the social benefits and epicurean delights of fresh, organic and locally grown food.
Santa Cruz City school kids make smoothies with strawberries they just picked from field at UCSC’s Farm project.
And, of course, to enjoy
Garden Nutrition Educator Jessica Curcio leads a small group of first grade students in the Gault School Garden Kitchen.… [Read More →]
Hear from three Life Lab Garden Instructors and one 3rd Grade Teacher on how they generate and share their school garden rules. View our post and resources for Managing an Effective Outdoor Classroom.… [Read More →]
The following videos are interviews with Garden Teacher Jane Forbes of Westlake K-5, 3rd Grade Teacher Colleen Riggen of Mar Vista K-5, and Garden Teacher Caprice Potter of Gateway K-8. Collectively these three garden educators have close to 40 years of teaching children in a garden setting. Download the Effective Outdoor Management in School Gardens handout.
Jane Forbes Garden Teacher since 2002 talks about discipline in the garden, encouraging exploration, … [Read More →]
Garden Instructor Susan Dahlgren leads first graders in a garden scavenger hunt. This 7 minute video highlights a 20 minute lesson at Gault K-5 School Garden in Santa Cruz, CA.… [Read More →]
Caprice Potter has been a garden teacher since 1987 at Gateway K-8 in Santa Cruz, CA. This 13 minute video highlights a 40 minute flower anatomy lesson taught in the spring of 2008. Visit the Gateway Life Lab Garden blog to learn more what’s being taught in the garden.… [Read More →]
From the early days of the Garden Classroom there were always visions of offering programming for teens. “Food, What?!” has fulfilled that vision:
“FOOD, WHAT?!” is a youth empowerment program using food, through sustainable agriculture and health, as the vehicle for bringing about personal growth and transformation. We partner with teenage youth to grow, cook, eat and distribute healthy sustainably raised food. These revolutionary acts serve to empower youth to … [Read More →]
In 2000 construction begins for the latest chapter in Life Lab’s history. In collaboration with the UCSC Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems (CASFS) The Garden Classroom annually serves thousands of pre-schoolers through adults in garden-based learning and nutrition education. In 2002 the first full year of programming hosts spring and fall field trips, summer day camps, afterschool and weekend community programs and teacher workshops.… [Read More →]
The National Science Foundation Grant which funded the Language Acquisition in Science Education at Rural Schools comes to and end but LASERS continues to thrive through the Monterey Bay Science Project (MBSP). Life Lab becomes a MBSP host site and receives funding through the California State Science Project, the UC Office of the President, and state education funds. MBSP uses innovative approaches to train science educators.
MBSP continues … [Read More →]
The National Science Foundation funds Life Lab, from 1995-2001 in the Language Acquisition in Science Education at Rural Schools (LASERS) project. Life Lab starts working with 7 school districts to improve science teaching practices for second language learners. UCSC partners with Life Lab to evaluate student improvements in both academics and language acquisition.
Life Lab “borrows” teachers from districts to coach other teachers, lead science training classes and create … [Read More →]
The following 14 minute video is a great summary of the impact that Life Lab Science Program has on schools. The power of school gardens has not changed much since 1986, but you will notice that hairstyles and clothing do!
Are you one of the people in this video? Add a comment to the post and tell us what you remember about Life Lab.
Life Lab 1986 from Life Lab… [Read More →]
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