I dedicate this week's blog to a very hard working inspirational teacher: Ms. Cathy Liss. Ms. Liss has spearheaded a community garden project at our school that teaches students responsibility teamwork cooperation and school pride. 

In addition students learn how to care for a garden and the ecology behind it. Ms. Liss has worked closely with Slow Food Desert Cities an organization dedicated to helping "people rediscover the joys of eating and understand the importance of caring where their food comes from."

The school garden project allows students to learn where food comes from and teaches students about making healthy choices.  Students in all grades are scheduled to come in a take care of a grade level bed of carrots lettuces sunflowers pumpkins or what ever the seasonal fruit is. This project has really helped inspire many students to work in the garden beds as well as pull in community and parental resources to build a lasting school-community relationship.  If you're considering starting a community garden in your school I highly recommend it!  

In addition to the community garden Ms. Liss has also partnered with Hidden Harvest a non profit organization in the Coachella Valley that "rescues" produce from the local farms and redistributes them to the low-income families around the valley.  Our school is host to a local community fruit and vegetable "give-away" on a seasonal basis.  

Ready to start your own garden? Use these resources below to get ideas!  

http://www.sustainabletable.org/schools/projects/

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/kindergarden/child/school/step.htm

http://sjmastergardeners.ucdavis.edu/School_Gardens/

http://www.schoolgardenwizard.org/

http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/Schools/Gardens/#HowStart

Please share any ideas you have about starting a garden and building student engagement!

Thanks for reading!

Eric