Growing Together: Open Forum

Hi everyone,

I teach science and gardening at a high school in Miami, FL and I also coordinate the garden in my school. At this moment I teach an elective horticulture/gardening class that I created and it has been successful and sought after by the students. It is labeled as "Ecology" since we do not have a better name available for it.

My goal is for my district to include an elective gardening class as part of the curriculum for all grades. I have been reaching out to several entities with no results or answers. So far we have had limited district support for gardening here in Miami.

In trying to make a case for this, I am reaching out to you all to ask if anybody knows approximately how many or which school districts support gardening programs for their schools.

If anybody has information can you please share?

Thank you so much!

Hi Cecilia,

I'm the garden educator at our school is Mid-Missouri. I teach PreK-4th grade how to grow their own food. We are 100% supported by the district with approximately a one acre garden space, 3 hoop houses, numerous raised beds, an inground space 30 x 100 and a greenhouse on the way.  To my knowledge there isn't another school district that does what we are doing. We see everyone (850) students in a 4 week rotation. I teach the Next Generation Science Standards and have amazing support from our district. 

I've been doing this for 7 years now and I am a certified teacher. I have developed curriculum for grades K-4 and work closely with our high school Ag teacher. I wish you the best of luck!  This is something every school should have! I've shared our latest video of all the classes and what they are doing in the garden this past month.

Cheers!

Hope Sickmeier

Hi everyone,

I teach science and gardening at a high school in Miami, FL and I also coordinate the garden in my school. At this moment I teach an elective horticulture/gardening class that I created and it has been successful and sought after by the students. It is labeled as "Ecology" since we do not have a better name available for it.

My goal is for my district to include an elective gardening class as part of the curriculum for all grades. I have been reaching out to several entities with no results or answers. So far we have had limited district support for gardening here in Miami.

In trying to make a case for this, I am reaching out to you all to ask if anybody knows approximately how many or which school districts support gardening programs for their schools.

If anybody has information can you please share?

Thank you so much!

Hope, I loved your video! I think I would like to be doing what you're doing! I teach outdoors all day, but I would like to be focused 100% on the garden and I can't do that...yet!

Cecilia, we have 2 Environmental Connections themed magnet elementary schools in our district, Wake County (Raleigh), NC. Within that magnet program students go to Environmental Inquiry (EI) 2 times per Specials rotation and they go to "Expeditions" (like electives) everyday. One of the EI rotations is outside all school year and that is where students focus on the garden as well as other outdoor activities that tie with what is going on in the indoor EI classroom. All of the electives are focused on environmental/science topics, many of them are plant/garden based.  I'll be happy to answer any questions you might have. While we are not 100% garden based, we are supported by our district and are a very popular magnet choice for families.

Megan Jackson

Hi Cecilia,

I'm the garden educator at our school is Mid-Missouri. I teach PreK-4th grade how to grow their own food. We are 100% supported by the district with approximately a one acre garden space, 3 hoop houses, numerous raised beds, an inground space 30 x 100 and a greenhouse on the way.  To my knowledge there isn't another school district that does what we are doing. We see everyone (850) students in a 4 week rotation. I teach the Next Generation Science Standards and have amazing support from our district. 

I've been doing this for 7 years now and I am a certified teacher. I have developed curriculum for grades K-4 and work closely with our high school Ag teacher. I wish you the best of luck!  This is something every school should have! I've shared our latest video of all the classes and what they are doing in the garden this past month.

Cheers!

Hope Sickmeier

Hi everyone,

I teach science and gardening at a high school in Miami, FL and I also coordinate the garden in my school. At this moment I teach an elective horticulture/gardening class that I created and it has been successful and sought after by the students. It is labeled as "Ecology" since we do not have a better name available for it.

My goal is for my district to include an elective gardening class as part of the curriculum for all grades. I have been reaching out to several entities with no results or answers. So far we have had limited district support for gardening here in Miami.

In trying to make a case for this, I am reaching out to you all to ask if anybody knows approximately how many or which school districts support gardening programs for their schools.

If anybody has information can you please share?

Thank you so much!

Hi Cecilia,

I'm the garden educator at our school is Mid-Missouri. I teach PreK-4th grade how to grow their own food. We are 100% supported by the district with approximately a one acre garden space, 3 hoop houses, numerous raised beds, an inground space 30 x 100 and a greenhouse on the way.  To my knowledge there isn't another school district that does what we are doing. We see everyone (850) students in a 4 week rotation. I teach the Next Generation Science Standards and have amazing support from our district. 

I've been doing this for 7 years now and I am a certified teacher. I have developed curriculum for grades K-4 and work closely with our high school Ag teacher. I wish you the best of luck!  This is something every school should have! I've shared our latest video of all the classes and what they are doing in the garden this past month.

Cheers!

Hope Sickmeier

Hi everyone,

I teach science and gardening at a high school in Miami, FL and I also coordinate the garden in my school. At this moment I teach an elective horticulture/gardening class that I created and it has been successful and sought after by the students. It is labeled as "Ecology" since we do not have a better name available for it.

My goal is for my district to include an elective gardening class as part of the curriculum for all grades. I have been reaching out to several entities with no results or answers. So far we have had limited district support for gardening here in Miami.

In trying to make a case for this, I am reaching out to you all to ask if anybody knows approximately how many or which school districts support gardening programs for their schools.

If anybody has information can you please share?

Thank you so much!

Hi everyone,

I teach science and gardening at a high school in Miami, FL and I also coordinate the garden in my school. At this moment I teach an elective horticulture/gardening class that I created and it has been successful and sought after by the students. It is labeled as "Ecology" since we do not have a better name available for it.

My goal is for my district to include an elective gardening class as part of the curriculum for all grades. I have been reaching out to several entities with no results or answers. So far we have had limited district support for gardening here in Miami.

In trying to make a case for this, I am reaching out to you all to ask if anybody knows approximately how many or which school districts support gardening programs for their schools.

If anybody has information can you please share?

Thank you so much!

Hi Cecilia,

You may find some info to support your cause here: USDA School Garden Fact Sheet. You could also check the USDA Farm to School Census for data on participating schools/districts. From the 2018-19 census it looks like over 65% of US schools participate in Farm to School activities.There's also this helpful info from the National Farm to School Network.

wishing you the best!

Jen

Hi everyone,

I teach science and gardening at a high school in Miami, FL and I also coordinate the garden in my school. At this moment I teach an elective horticulture/gardening class that I created and it has been successful and sought after by the students. It is labeled as "Ecology" since we do not have a better name available for it.

My goal is for my district to include an elective gardening class as part of the curriculum for all grades. I have been reaching out to several entities with no results or answers. So far we have had limited district support for gardening here in Miami.

In trying to make a case for this, I am reaching out to you all to ask if anybody knows approximately how many or which school districts support gardening programs for their schools.

If anybody has information can you please share?

Thank you so much!

Hi everyone,

I teach science and gardening at a high school in Miami, FL and I also coordinate the garden in my school. At this moment I teach an elective horticulture/gardening class that I created and it has been successful and sought after by the students. It is labeled as "Ecology" since we do not have a better name available for it.

My goal is for my district to include an elective gardening class as part of the curriculum for all grades. I have been reaching out to several entities with no results or answers. So far we have had limited district support for gardening here in Miami.

In trying to make a case for this, I am reaching out to you all to ask if anybody knows approximately how many or which school districts support gardening programs for their schools.

If anybody has information can you please share?

Thank you so much!

Hi Cecelia!

I work as a garden educator for Murfreesboro City Schools in Murfreesboro TN. We have 13 elementary schools, 12 of which have raised bed vegetable gardens at them, and all of which have aeroponic growing towers in them. We have 5 farmer educators funded through the nutrition department by renewable USDA farm to school funding. Students come out to the garden as an added activity (during classroom time) that aligns with their in-classroom learning standards (mostly science but also some social studies and math and other things). Some grades come out monthly and some only once a year or a few times a year. We are not certified teachers and are all moms who love the work and the flexibility of the job. The school board loves the garden program, and our director of nutrition is a huge advocate for the program (and is our boss). I know elementary school is different than the higher grades, but I agree that all students should have access to garden education! I work at two elementary schools (my position is part time) and have about 700 students rotating through the garden every month out of about 1600 students total between the two schools.

Hi everyone,

I teach science and gardening at a high school in Miami, FL and I also coordinate the garden in my school. At this moment I teach an elective horticulture/gardening class that I created and it has been successful and sought after by the students. It is labeled as "Ecology" since we do not have a better name available for it.

My goal is for my district to include an elective gardening class as part of the curriculum for all grades. I have been reaching out to several entities with no results or answers. So far we have had limited district support for gardening here in Miami.

In trying to make a case for this, I am reaching out to you all to ask if anybody knows approximately how many or which school districts support gardening programs for their schools.

If anybody has information can you please share?

Thank you so much!

Hi everyone,

I teach science and gardening at a high school in Miami, FL and I also coordinate the garden in my school. At this moment I teach an elective horticulture/gardening class that I created and it has been successful and sought after by the students. It is labeled as "Ecology" since we do not have a better name available for it.

My goal is for my district to include an elective gardening class as part of the curriculum for all grades. I have been reaching out to several entities with no results or answers. So far we have had limited district support for gardening here in Miami.

In trying to make a case for this, I am reaching out to you all to ask if anybody knows approximately how many or which school districts support gardening programs for their schools.

If anybody has information can you please share?

Thank you so much!

Hi, Cecilia!  Houston ISD in Texas has a program that is being funded through their Nutrition Services Department.  It is not in every school, but is growing, and the district has given 6 acres to the program--3 for gardens and 3 for woodlands.  In addition, Texas has an agriculture program in the high schools as part of the Career and Technical Education program.  It is a 4 year program that subdivides into 6 areas of study.  My local high school just added a second teacher in this area.  Good luck!

Hi everyone,

I teach science and gardening at a high school in Miami, FL and I also coordinate the garden in my school. At this moment I teach an elective horticulture/gardening class that I created and it has been successful and sought after by the students. It is labeled as "Ecology" since we do not have a better name available for it.

My goal is for my district to include an elective gardening class as part of the curriculum for all grades. I have been reaching out to several entities with no results or answers. So far we have had limited district support for gardening here in Miami.

In trying to make a case for this, I am reaching out to you all to ask if anybody knows approximately how many or which school districts support gardening programs for their schools.

If anybody has information can you please share?

Thank you so much!

Hi Eugene, thank you for your answer. What is the name of the program funded through the Nutrition Services Department called? 

Hi, Cecilia!  Houston ISD in Texas has a program that is being funded through their Nutrition Services Department.  It is not in every school, but is growing, and the district has given 6 acres to the program--3 for gardens and 3 for woodlands.  In addition, Texas has an agriculture program in the high schools as part of the Career and Technical Education program.  It is a 4 year program that subdivides into 6 areas of study.  My local high school just added a second teacher in this area.  Good luck!

Hi everyone,

I teach science and gardening at a high school in Miami, FL and I also coordinate the garden in my school. At this moment I teach an elective horticulture/gardening class that I created and it has been successful and sought after by the students. It is labeled as "Ecology" since we do not have a better name available for it.

My goal is for my district to include an elective gardening class as part of the curriculum for all grades. I have been reaching out to several entities with no results or answers. So far we have had limited district support for gardening here in Miami.

In trying to make a case for this, I am reaching out to you all to ask if anybody knows approximately how many or which school districts support gardening programs for their schools.

If anybody has information can you please share?

Thank you so much!

Hey There!

The program is called Learn, Grow, Eat, Go. (LGEG) It is through the Texas Agriculture Extension. If you are not in Texas you might want to reach out to your local Ag Extension as they have a plethora of resources.

The LGEG program is a very good curriculum for elementary children. I have included the website if you want to check it out.

https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/asset-local/learn-grow-eat-go/

Hi Eugene, thank you for your answer. What is the name of the program funded through the Nutrition Services Department called? 

Hi, Cecilia!  Houston ISD in Texas has a program that is being funded through their Nutrition Services Department.  It is not in every school, but is growing, and the district has given 6 acres to the program--3 for gardens and 3 for woodlands.  In addition, Texas has an agriculture program in the high schools as part of the Career and Technical Education program.  It is a 4 year program that subdivides into 6 areas of study.  My local high school just added a second teacher in this area.  Good luck!

Hi everyone,

I teach science and gardening at a high school in Miami, FL and I also coordinate the garden in my school. At this moment I teach an elective horticulture/gardening class that I created and it has been successful and sought after by the students. It is labeled as "Ecology" since we do not have a better name available for it.

My goal is for my district to include an elective gardening class as part of the curriculum for all grades. I have been reaching out to several entities with no results or answers. So far we have had limited district support for gardening here in Miami.

In trying to make a case for this, I am reaching out to you all to ask if anybody knows approximately how many or which school districts support gardening programs for their schools.

If anybody has information can you please share?

Thank you so much!

Hi everyone,

I teach science and gardening at a high school in Miami, FL and I also coordinate the garden in my school. At this moment I teach an elective horticulture/gardening class that I created and it has been successful and sought after by the students. It is labeled as "Ecology" since we do not have a better name available for it.

My goal is for my district to include an elective gardening class as part of the curriculum for all grades. I have been reaching out to several entities with no results or answers. So far we have had limited district support for gardening here in Miami.

In trying to make a case for this, I am reaching out to you all to ask if anybody knows approximately how many or which school districts support gardening programs for their schools.

If anybody has information can you please share?

Thank you so much!