Orchard School

The Orchard School garden has been in existence for 15 years as an integral part of the school’s mission and identity. The Whole Kids Foundation grant would:
1. Expand our garden by adding four new raised planting beds to increase production of vegetables, herbs and flowers
2. Increase the quantity and quality of produce delivered to our school’s garden-based lunch program
3. Increase our 4-stage composting bin by 26% with new vermi-composting bin
4. Raise student and parents knowledge and awareness of vermi-composting and it’s benefits to the individual, school, community and the larger environment
5. Provide students with education on worms and worm ecosystems. This project-based program would connect to our math, science, humanities, and arts curricula. Students will be fully involved in all aspects of the program including bin & bed construction. It would address two critical issues in our community - drought & a 40% over-use of the county’s landfill with compostable waste.