$150,000 Awarded to California School Gardens

Western Growers Foundation, along with its proud partner, the California Department of Education, announced that 100 California K-12 schools will receive $150,000 in grant money to create and sustain their own edible gardens.  Each school received $1,500 plus seeds and other materials.  The grants were made possible through a USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant, administered through California Department of Food and Agriculture.

Among the list of grant recipients is Harbor Day School in Corona del Mar, CA.  The school garden is managed by Pat Huff, a science teacher at Harbor Day, with the help of teachers, parents and other volunteers.  Ms. Huff is grateful for the $1,500 grant which will help revitalize their garden.  “Each student will get one square foot in our new raised beds to grow fruits and vegetables,” she said.

To assist with the planting is Ken Schwarz, grandfather to Harbor Day 2nd grader Durham Pelinka.  Schwarz brings his expertise as a certified Master Gardener to the garden.  “I’m excited to pass on my passion of gardening to my grandchildren by volunteering here at Harbor Day.  I’ve seen firsthand that children will eat what they grow,” said Schwarz.

 

California School Garden Grant Recipients by County:

 

Alameda County

Berkeley Technology Academy

Cleveland Elementary

Henry Haight Elementary

Hoover Elementary

Jefferson Elementary

Malcolm X Elementary

Thousand Oaks Elementary

 

Calaveras County

San Andreas Elementary

 

Contra Costa County

Los Medanos Elementary

Mount Diablo High School

Parkmead Elementary

 

Fresno County

School of Unlimited Learning

 

Inyo County

Bishop Elementary

 

Kern County

Beardsley Elementary

Lost Hills Elementary

Tompkins Elementary

 

Lassen County

Johnstonville Elementary

 

Los Angeles County

Aeolian Elementary

Bell Gardens High School

Bellarmine-Jefferson High School

Billy Mitchell Elementary

Chaparral Elementary

Downtown Value Charter School

Evelyn Thurman Gratts

Larchmont Charter School

Los Altos Elementary

Lucille Smith Elementary School

Marquez Elementary

Mesquite Elementary

Monterey Hills Elementary

Mulholland Middle School

MUSE School

Topanga Elementary Charter School

Whittier Christian Schools

Wilshire Crest Elementary

 

Marin County

Bayside MLK Academy

Brookside Elementary

 

Mendocino County

Arena Union Elementary

Grace Hudson Elementary

Laytonville High School

 

Monterey County

Captain Cooper Elementary

Crumpton Elementary

Lincoln Elementary

Rancho Cielo Youth Campus

 

Napa County

Stone Bridge School

Vichy Elementary

 

Nevada County

Alta Sierra Elementary

Sugarloaf Mountain High School

 

Orange County

Beckman High School

Harbor Day School

Rolling Hills Elementary

Whittier Elementary

 

Riverside County

Granite Hill Elementary

 

Sacramento County

Cordova High School

Del Paso Heights Elementary

Thomas Kelly Elementary

 

San Benito County

RO Hardin Elementary

 

San Bernardino County

Baldy View Elementary

Newman Elementary

Soar Charter Academy

 

San Diego County

Bobier Elementary

Casita Center Elementary

Castle Park High School

Jamul Primary School

Lemon Grove Academy for the Sciences and Humanities

Madison High School

Mt. Everest Academy

Naranca Elementary

Rolling Hills Elementary

San Diego School for Creative and Performing Arts

Serra High School

Vista High School

 

San Joaquin County

Lodi High School

Tracy High School

 

San Mateo County

Castilleja School

Ormondale School

San Mateo County Court School

St. Roberts School

 

Santa Barbara County

Alvin Elementary

Arellanes Junior High

Martin Luther Tunnell School

 

Santa Clara County

Discovery Charter School 2

 

Santa Cruz County

HA Hyde Elementary

Happy Valley Elementary

Orchard School

Pacific Elementary

 

Shasta County

Oak Run Elementary

Shasta Union Elementary

 

Solano County

Dixon High School

 

Stanislaus County

Julien Elementary

Stanislaus Elementary

 

Tulare County

Earlimart Elementary

Pleasant Elementary

Rocky Hill Elementary

 

Yolo County

Pioneer Elementary

River City High School

Stonegate Elementary

Waggoner Elementary

Westmore Oaks K-8 School

Zamora Elementary

 

Western Growers Foundation’s edible school garden program is open to all K-12 schools, both public and private, in California and Arizona.  For more information, please contact Paula Olson at paula.olson@wga.com or to donate, visit www.csgn.org/donate.