Upper Elementary

Southwood Elementary School

Southwood Elementary School is a true “neighborhood school,” serving 350 students from pre-K to 5th grade in suburban Old Bridge, New Jersey. As part of our “Sustainable Southwood” school-wide initiative and community partnership, our school has made a steadfast commitment to promoting character development with an emphasis on social and environmental responsibility.

Robert Drummond Elementary

Living in a lower income community, I see the relation between poverty and poor health. As a health coach, mother of a student at this school, and girl scout parent and volunteer, I get an up close and personal view of this relationship. A few instances my daughter, (Olivia, 5th grade) has come home with some health information she got at school, excited and educating us on what to do and what she learned. My goal is to set up a nutrition education class that comes with the garden experience in our school, and maybe even in our school district.

Underwood Elementary

The Underwood School Garden has been a staple of our school community for almost 20 years! The space was created by Missy Costello and Janet Springfield (two fifth grade teachers) to provide students with an understanding of science and to have an “outdoor classroom.”

Bennett-Hemenway Elementary School

Our garden was started 3 years ago by 2 moms that wanted to educate our students on where food comes from and how to eat healthy. In those 3 years, the garden has grown from 1 bed to 10 raised beds, 2 flower gardens and a raspberry patch. Our goal this year is to further grow the garden to include a year-round greenhouse to help the students further their knowledge of plant lifecycles and give our teachers a year-round classroom devoted to plants and their importance in the everyday lives of our students.

Virginia Chance School

With the help of a grant and community donations, our school was able to build a hoop house that will enable us to grow fruits and vegetables year round. We are requesting a Whole Kids Garden Grant to plant a variety of vegetables, fruit bearing trees and shrubs in and around the greenhouse to enhance experiential learning while promoting healthy, locally grown foods and supporting biodiversity.

Benchmark Elementary School

The goal of the Benchmark School Garden is to revitalize the aging Garden with a new watering system, removable shade structures, and even add additional beds to the area in order to increase produce levels. In addition, the kids are hoping to set aside area for "pollinator plants" as the students are very aware of why pollinators are so vital to our food supply since the addition of the amazing honey bee observation hive in the Living Science Building next to the Garden. The school would utilize the grant funds as a catalyst for more community and family focused programs in the Garden.

Edison Elementary

The Schoolhouse Garden is a collaboration between the University of Oregon’s Service-Learning Program and Edison Elementary School. These entities, along with other community partners, utilize this space as an outdoor classroom for Upper Elementary students as well as college undergraduates. With helpful instruction from a local landscape architect and organic gardening expert, students learn about food insecurity in their community, health and nutrition, as well as the overarching subject of sustainable food production.

Woodward School for Technology & Research

Fair Food Matters' Growing Matters Garden provides garden-based, hands-on learning opportunities for local youth by supporting and coordinating garden activities at Woodward School for Research and Technology (WSTaR). With areas for vegetables, herbs, strawberries, and edible flowers, over 300 students are involved with the school garden each year. An extension of the classroom, we work closely with teachers to align garden lessons with state standards in science, math, and language arts.

La Tercera Elementary

La Tercera Elementary is the first STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) focused elementary school in Sonoma County. Our garden will be an integral component of STEM learning for all of our students. The ultimate goal of our garden is to create an awareness for our students in the importance of healthy eating. The garden will provide opportunities for students to be involved in the developing and maintaining of garden beds. Last year, Sonoma County Master Gardeners provided us with a worm bin which will continue to be utilized this year.

Parker-Bennett-Curry Elementary School

The garden presents a unique and excellent opportunity to elementary school children to learn firsthand the value of plants and the importance of nature in an increasingly technology driven society. The intent is to allow children to have fun and enjoy the experience of being outdoors while learning different aspects of gardening. They will learn about the fundamental importance of growing food. The goal for the garden is to enable the students to engage in hands-on-learning, where students will plant, raise and harvest the vegetables/fruits when ready serving as an outdoor classroom.

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