Vernonia Schools

This garden will be a teaching tool for our students and the community. Food security is a hot topic in our region, and this garden will be the focal point for education on food production. 2013 will be our second year in production, and we will continue providing excess food to the local food bank. Our school is developing a stronger natural resources program, and many teachers have asked for a practical "lab" with which they can demonstrate many key concepts of the sciences.

As we educate the children, we also educate the community. We do this through garden space rental, mentoring, and partnership with the food bank and the Oregon State University Master Gardener program. We have a strong pool of Master Gardener volunteers in Vernonia, well able to instruct others in production of healthy foods. We also have a high poverty rate and a population that is not educated in the health benefits of whole foods.

This program is supported by .