Virginia Ave Charlotte DeHart Elem School

The receipt of a Whole Kids Garden Grant will make it possible to construct and maintain a new urban school garden in a high-poverty district, and provide the infrastructure for Shenandoah University students to partner in facilitating an after-school garden club focused on nutrition, agriculture and environmental stewardship. Children residing in this high-poverty district often have little opportunities for after-school enrichment and this garden club will add to the options available at this school. Therefore, the short-term goals are to construct an edible garden that is infused into existing curriculum, develop an after-school garden club with 4th grade students and use fruit/vegetables from the garden in classroom education and tastings. The long-term goals are to expand the garden and use space effectively and use garden crops to support fresh fruit/vegetable offerings in the school cafeteria. Overall, the vision is to start small and demonstrate feasibility before expansion.