Independence High School

This garden serves to restore land to its natural, ecological state by planting native gardens found in the school's region. This teaching garden will be an instrument to teach the four pillars of learning. 1. The next generation California science standards using the FOSS method and other established STEM education methods. 2. Environmental education using the EEI curriculum. 3. Food and nutrition by hands on citizen science projects focused on garden plants that are high in nutrition and produce outstanding yields with less energy and labor to produce. 4. By implementing the ELSEE model in various stages on schoolyard lands, we are able to teach all aspects of sustainability, including the long term sustainability of the garden program. This is a healthy land use model for an urban environment as it not only produces healthy, nutritious food but does it in a way that is economical and innovative. Lessons taught in this native edible garden will focus primarily on science, land restoration, California history, Native American cultures, social science, ecology, health, and nutrition.