Mark Twain Middle School "Seeds to Plate Program"

The Seeds to Plate Program aims to create and maintain a school garden that is integrated into the academic environment, promote a healthy food culture, nurture physical and mental well-being and provide hands-on gardening and eating experiences for students, families and staff to foster mutual respect, appreciation of diversity, community spirit and sustainability of the earth.

Our program, begun in 2010, is a volunteer-led effort operating in a thriving, one-third acre garden at Mark Twain Middle School, a Los Angeles Unified School District Title I public school, located in the Venice/Mar Vista area.

Six Volunteer Educators, most with Master Gardener training through University of California Cooperative Extension, developed a school garden program, using the garden as an ideal place for inquiry-based learning grounded in the outdoors.  Over 250 students participate each month in the outdoor classroom, receiving integrated lessons in math, social studies, language arts, science, special education, nutrition, and art.

We are working towards our Master Plan, which includes a school farm, an outdoor classroom, a native garden, and an amphitheater.