December 2016 Photo Moment of the Month

December 2016

School Garden Support Organizations unite! We hosted 19 school garden support organizations from across the nation for a week-long institute in early December to share successful program models and best practices for supporting school gardens. These 30 people and their organizations serve more than 270,000 students, and the group included both long-time leaders and fledgling programs for a vibrant exchange of ideas and perspectives. It was a truly inspiring week, capped with an evening of networking with school garden educators from our greater Santa Cruz region. The excitement continued this month when our fantastic partner, Whole Kids Foundation, confirmed that they look forward to collaborating with us to host a second annual SGSO Institute in 2017!

Participants had this to say at the end of the week:

“The SGSO Leadership Institute provided fantastic resources and set us up to lead effective trainings. We are already communicating with other participants around the US to share resources and questions.”

“We can't wait to get to work! We are so inspired!”

“Thanks for your vision and leadership!”

November 2016

Learning and tasting the 6 plant parts.

Healthy Eating is FUN in our Blooming Classroom! We always taste fruits and vegetables in our garden programs, and many teachers and parents are surprised at how the children react. In the fun and dynamic context of garden program, where they get to see healthy foods growing and pick some of them fresh, kids love beets, kale, chard, broccoli and other foods that many parents are used to seeing them reject. The secret: it has to be interesting and FUN!

Of the 452 Pajaro Valley elementary school kids tasting foods at our Blooming Classroom educational garden in Watsonville over the last school year, 48% were trying something for the first time, and 58% LOVED what they tried, with another 10% liking it. That newfound taste spills over into what they choose at the school cafeteria and ask for at home. Lifelong healthy eating habits start here.