Gardens to Grow In is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that was founded in 2010 with a mission to promote and support healthy and sustainable lifestyles, youth development, community involvement and self-reliance in Calaveras County schools and communities by teaching children and adults how to grow and prepare healthy food.

 

We envision a community where schools are the model for healthy and sustainable living.

 

Our goals include:

• Raising money and helping finance garden construction and maintenance.

• Funding garden educators and release time for teachers to teach in the garden

• Distributing free plants and seeds to garden programs.

• Developing and supporting adult and youth volunteer programs for gardens.

• Teaching sustainable and organic gardening/farming practices that can be used to grow food in back yards or on a small farm.

• Increasing the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables to students and families.

• Providing nutrition and cooking lessons to children and adults.

• Building and cultivating community partnerships.

• Offering events and networking opportunities.

• Offering workshops for teachers and community members on building and sustaining school gardens and implement standards-based nutrition and garden curriculum.

• Supporting Farm to School efforts in the Mother Lode - connecting schools to farms.

• Supporting school site based farmer’s markets.

• Connecting children and adults to their food, environment and all living things.

 

Gardens to Grow In has developed and/or supported garden and nutrition programs at all nine Calaveras Unified School District (CUSD) schools over the last three years.  We have partnered with CUSD and the UC Cooperative Extension, Central Sierra to host a FoodCorps service member.  FoodCorps is a national nonprofit that connects kids to real food by supporting school gardens, nutrition education and Farm to School programs in 17 states throughout the country.  Gardens to Grow In has also been selected to be a regional lead for the California Farm to School Network.

 

Gardens to Grow in works with children from Calaveras pre-schools, schools and youth organizations to utilize these gardens as outdoor learning labs.  Master Garden and community volunteers, teachers, parents and high school students participate and use the gardens for hands-on instruction in sustainable garden practices and environmental and nutrition education. Our Master Garden volunteers and Garden Coordinator(s)provide standards based, cross curricular activities during school hours and in after school and summer programs. Students eat what they grow in the garden and learn about the importance of taking care of themselves, and the world around them.

Engaging Children Children from Calaveras and Amador pre-schools, schools and youth organizations will use the gardens as outdoor learning labs.  Master Garden and community volunteers, teachers, parents and high school students will use the gardens to provide hands-on instruction in sustainable garden practices and environmental and nutrition education to these students. Our Master Garden volunteers and Garden Coordinator(s) will provide standards based, cross curricular activities during school hours and in after school and summer programs. Students will eat what they grow.

Engaging Families and Community The Resource Connection, UC Davis Cooperative Extension, First 5 Calaveras, 4-H garden groups, local churches and other community groups will use the gardens for youth and adult nutrition and garden education classes, to produce food for local consumption and educate families on how to grow their own gardens.

We believe that if we start with our children, and teach them how to be healthy, and live well, our communities will soon follow.  If we plant the seeds to create change in our youth, we will grow a healthy future for all!

 

- See more at: http://www.csgn.org/gardens-grow#sthash.lPCpecu7.dpuf