School and Youth Gardens

Transcription

1 OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY School and Youth Gardens 2013 REPORT Prepared by Maureen Hosty Oregon State University 4- H Youth Development Faculty

2 2 Background In communities across Oregon families and schools are facing challenging times. Oregon ranks third in the percentage of hunger. Close to one third of Oregon schools qualify for free and reduced meals as reported on the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) website. Childhood obesity is growing at epidemic proportions and many families face food insecurity. Limited natural resources and a growing concern about a generation of youth who are largely disconnected from nature are at an all- time high. Oregon residents now more than ever are looking for new ways to address these issues, live healthier lives and more sustainably, and prepare the next generation for a world with more limited resources. It is widely recognized that attention to living sustainably will require all Oregonians to actively be aware of the environmental, social and economic needs of our present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Today during lunch breaks, after school and on weekends, young people are working side- by- side with adult OSU Extension staff and volunteers to transform and utilize 132 small plots of land in 27 counties into school gardens for healthy living, healthy communities and healthy environments. They promote 1) learning to support what is happening in the classroom across all areas of the curriculum 2) healthy eating and nutrition, and 3) stewardship among youth by inspiring, educating and connecting communities, schools and organizations. Master Gardeners Forestry and Agriculture School and Youth Gardens 4- H Youth Development Family and Community Heallth

3 3 Table of Contents Background... 2 The School Garden Movement Year History of OSU Extension and School Gardens... 5 OSU Supported School Gardens... 6 Listing of School Gardens... 7 School and Youth Garden Audiences The role of OSU Extension in Oregon School Gardens How are the Gardens Used School and Youth Garden Use and Purposes... 20

4 4 The School Garden Movement The idea of incorporating gardens in schools began in the late 19th century when Henry Lincoln Clapp, a teacher at the George Putnam Grammar School in Boston, MA, established the first school garden. Inspired after visiting school gardens in Europe, Clapp created a wildflower and vegetable garden at Putnam in 1891 with support from the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. The establishment of school gardens soon spread throughout the state and eventually became a nationwide movement, with an estimated 75,000 school gardens by With the love of the school garden has grown the desire for a home garden and some of their plots at home are very good Since commencing the garden work the children have become better companions and friends and to feel that there is a right way of doing everything it is our garden We try to carry that spirit into our schoolroom. - School teacher, Zilda M. Rogers (1909) Not unlike today early garden advocates integrated school gardens in the public schools for many purposes. It was a way to get city children outside, engage them in physical activity, and instill in them a sense of pride and teamwork as they cultivated and maintained their gardens. Gardening classes provided students with vocational and agricultural training. Teachers taught a variety of subjects through garden activities. Students practiced writing by keeping planting journals and writing compositions about the garden. Math skills were acquired by counting seeds, measuring garden plots, and determining the appropriate soil depth for planting. Students learned botany and entomology by observing plants and insects and their interrelationships. Geography and history came into play when students studied the origins of fruits and vegetables and planting customs among different cultures. The gardens provided inspiration for drawing, painting, and performing music. In 1914, the federal government established the Bureau of Education s Office of School and Home Gardening, which promoted school gardens and provided how-to pamphlets and course guides.

5 5 100 Year History of OSU Extension and School Gardens For nearly 100 years OSU Extension faculty have provided support to local schools and communities to teachers, students and school staff to create, use and sustain school gardens for healthy living. Through the vision of the early state 4- H leaders Oregon became the first state to offer 4- H work in a metropolitan area. school grounds were used for victory gardens in World War I. Oregon 4- Hleader, H.C. Seymour, worked to bring these groups into 4- H with support from the school district, the PTA, and others at the end of the school year. Today, 4- H Extension faculty continue this work to create, use and sustain school gardens for healthy living and learning across all curriculum areas with the support of local school districts, PTA s and community partners.

6 6 Montavilla School Garden,, OR (1919) OSU Supported School Gardens One hundred and fifty four OSU Extension Staff and volunteers from 4 - H, Family Community Development, Master Gardeners, Snap Education, Agriculture and Forestry responded to a survey to determine if and how they support school gardens in Oregon today. These OSU Extension staff and volunteers who responded represented each of the program areas of Extension.

7 O r e g o n S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y E x t e n s i o n 7 SCHOOL AND YOUTH GARDENS REPORT L i s t i n g o f S c h o o l G a r d e n s O S U S t a f f a n d v o l u n t e e r s w o r k e d w i t h y o u t h g a r d e n s a c r o s s O r e g o n a t s c h o o l s, c o m m u n i t y c e n t e r s a n d c o m m u n i t y s i t e s. T h e f o l l o w i n g i s t h e l i s t o f s c h o o l g a r d e n s. S C H O O L G A R D E N N A M E C O M M U N I T Y

8 8 Adams Elementary School Agate Heights Garden Alameda Elementary Albany Boys and Girls Club All Saints School Allendale Elementary Alpenrose Dairy 4 - H Archbishop Howard Elementary Astor Elementary Astoria High School Garden and Greenhouse Astoria Middle School Atkinson Elementary Barnes Elementary Beach Elementary Bear Creek Elementary Beverly Cleary Elementary Boring Middle School Bridger Elementary Bridlemile Elementary Candy Lane Elementary Cannon Beach Elementary Cascade Gateway park Chapman Elementary City View Charter Elementary Clackamas Garden, Green Corps Project Corvallis Newport Albany Grants Pass Astoria Astoria Astoria Beaverton Bend Boring Oregon City Cannon Beach Salem Hillsboro Oregon City

9 9 Clatskanie Youth Garden Clatsop Community Gardens Creative Science Elementary CREST center Wilsonville School District Crook County High School Crook County Kids Club Garden Deep Creek Elementary Earthworm Acres Community Garden East Elementary School Eastern Oregon Head Start EDEN (Eat, Discover, Educate, Nurture) Estacada Elementary Elk Meadow Four Corners Four Rivers Community Garden Friends Church Community Garden Camp Fruitdale Elementary Gladiola High School Grass Roots Gray School Garden GREEN Corps- Fresh Start Hayhurst Elementary Highland Elementary Holy Redeemer Schools Hood River Middle School Clatskanie Clatsop County Wilsonville Prineville Prineville Damascus Myrtle Point Tillamook La Grande Southeast Salem Estacada Bend Salem Ontario Klamath Falls Grants Pass Grants Pass Eugene Astoria Clackamas Grants Pass Hood River

10 10 Hood River Valley High School Hoover Elementary Hopkins Elementary School Imlay Elementary James John Elementary Juniper Elementary Kansas Avenue Learning Garden Kids Club at Riviera Activity Center King Elementary Klahre House Alternative School L'Etoile French School Garden Laurelhurst Elementary Learning Gardens Laboratory Lenox elementary School Lent School Lent School Community Garden Lincoln Elementary Lincoln Elementary Lincoln Street Elementary School Lookingglass Elementary Luscher Farm Community Garden Madison High School Madison Elementary Madrona Elementary Marion Polk Food Share Youth Farm Hood River Corvallis Sherwood Hillsboro Bend Bend La Grande Hood River Hillsboro Corvallis Grants Pass Hillsboro Roseburg Lake Oswego Coos Bay Grants Pass Salem

11 11 Mary Woodward Elementary Merrill garden Metropolitan Learning Center Myrtle Point YA4- H Garden Neah- Kah- Nie Junior High School Newberg High School Newport High School Next Door Inc. Klahre House Garden North Clackamas Christian North Coast Community Trust North Powder Charter School Nyssa School District Oceanspray Family Center Oregon Youth Authority - Trask High School OSU Franklin Teaching Plot Parkdale Elementary School - "sprouts" Parkside Elementary Railroad Garden Redmond Boys and Girls Club Richmond Elementary Rigler Elementary Riley Creek Elementary School Rosedale E lementary Rosland Elementary School Rotary First Harvest Production Garden T igard Merrill Myrtle Point Rockaway Beach Newberg Newport Hood River Oregon City Nehalem North Powder Nyssa Newport Tillamook Central Point Parkdale Grants Pass Seaside Redmond Curry County Hillsboro La Pine Klamath Falls

12 12 Sabin Elementary Sam Case Elementary Schoolyard Farms Seaside Heights Elementary School Seeds of Change - Cascade School Sherman Elementary Skyline Elementary Springwater Trail Elementary St. Ann's Elementary S uavie Island Elementary Sunnyside Environmental School Sunrise Elementary Sunstone Montessori School Taft Elementary The Children s' McMinnville Community Garden The Dalles High School The Dalles Imagination Garden The Dalles Middle School The Dalles/Watonka High School Tillamook Junior High School Toledo Community Garden Tualatin Elementary Union Community Garden/Elementary School Vestal School Community Garden Walt Morey Middle School Newport Milwaukie Seaside Lebanon Grass Valley Gresham Grants Pass Albany Lincoln City McMinnville The Dalles The Dalles The Dalles The Dalles Tillamook Toledo Tualatin Union Troutdale

13 13 Warm Springs Elementary Warrenton Community Garden Westside Community Garden Willow Creek Community Garden Wy'east Middle School Yaquina Bay Lighthouse Garden YMCA Camp Greider Warm Springs Reservation Warrenton Madras Madras Odell Newport West Salem

14 14 School based garden Community garden school district garden OSU Extension garden

15 O r e g o n S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y E x t e n s i o n 1 5 SCHOOL AND YOUTH GARDENS REPORT S c h o o l a n d Y o u t h G a r d e n A u d i e n c e s O S U E x t e n s i o n s t a f f a n d v o l u n t e e r s s u p p o r t e d y o u t h g a r d e n i n g t h r o u g h a v a r i e t y o f s e t t i n g s. S c h o o l - b a s e d g a r d e n s i t e s w e r e t h e m o s t s i t e s f o l l o w e d b y c o m m u n i t y g a r d e n s i t e s. S e v e n p e r c e n t o f t h e s i t e s w e r e O S U E x t e n s i o n b a s e d s i t e s ( 1 0 t o t a l ). How would you describe this youth garden? (check all that apply) 90% 83.90% School Garden (based on school property) 80% 70% 60% School District Garden (serves mulgple schools) 50% 33.90% 40% Community garden that serves youth 30% 20% 10% 0% 1.80% 7.10% An OSU Extension run youth/community garden

16 O r e g o n S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y E x t e n s i o n 1 6 SCHOOL AND YOUTH GARDENS REPORT O S U E x t e n s i o n s t a f f a n d v o l u n t e e r s s u p p o r t e d y o u t h g a r d e n i n g f r o m P r e K t o h i g h s c h o o l. E l e m e n t a r y s c h o o l s ( % ) w e r e t h e a u d i e n c e m o s t s e r v e d b y O S U E x t e n s i o n. Grades/ages served by this youth garden? (check all that apply) 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 70.50% 59.80% 41.10% 10.70% Preschool Elementary (K- 5 or Middle School or K- 6) Junior High High School

17 17 The role of OSU Extension in Oregon School Gardens OSU Extension staff and volunteers were the primary local partner in nearly 50% of the school gardens they served. Beyond serving as the primary organization responsible for planning, organizing and supporting school gardens, OSU Extension also served the critical roles of providing on- site consultations, curriculum support and providing volunteers who worked on site at school gardens across Oregon. What is the role of OSU Extension in this garden (check all that apply)? 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 49.60% 55.00% 25.20% Primary local Provide on- site Provide partner (planning, organizing, implemengng the project) consultagons training classes for teachers and/ or students 58.80% curriclum 48.10% Support OSU Extension Volunteers who work on- site 21.40% 4- H Aier School Club (incorporates garden educagon) The three primary OSU Extension program areas that supported youth gardens in Oregon were Master Gardeners (37%), 4- H Youth Development (37%) and Family Community Health/Snap Ed (26% ).

18 18 Which Extension Program is the the Primary Lead? 3% 37% 37% 4H FCH Snap Ed Master Gardeners 18% 8% Ag/Foresty

19 19 How are the Gardens Used The youth gardens supported by OSU Extension staff and volunteers were at different stages of development. However, a strong majority (48%) of the school gardens were described as a vibrant school garden. Which of the following describes this garden? 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 10.20% Planning and Designing Stage but ground is not yet broken 29.60% The garden is built and in the early stages 12.00% An established garden but used lille 48.10% A vibrant school garden program The school gardens wee also used consistently by teachers, community partners and volunteers as a way to engage youth in learning about natural resources, healthy living, and nutrition. One half of the gardens sites engaged youth at least 3 or more hours a month.

20 20 How oyen would you ESTIMATE student and teachers are using the garden? more than 10 hours a month 25% 1-2 hours a month 25% 6-10 hours a month 17% 3-5 hours a month 33% School and Youth Garden Use and Purposes During the 1990 s school wildlife habitat gardens were the most common form of gardening in schools. It was during this time that concerns about environmental degradation, loss of wildlife habitat and the growing number of endangered species were at the forefront. Today, these issues are still relevant and important. However, as a result of a nationwide economic downturn, growing numbers of youth and families are f acing hunger and food insecurity. Obesity rates, especially among youth are increasing and youth are becoming more and more disconnected with nature. Today food gardens have largely replaced wildlife gardens. In many cases, however, both gardens exist side by side and complement each other. Eighty- nine percent of school and youth gardens supported by OSU Extension were food/vegetable gardens and 30% were wildlife gardens.

21 21 Which of the following elements are included in the garden? Check all that apply 100% 88.50% 80% 60% 40% 20% 30.20% 13.70% 0% Vegetable Garden Wildlife Garden Rain Garden While these gardens served many purposes, the primary purpose of these OSU supported gardens was to use the gardens for teaching lessons on food and nutrition ( 63%). Community service and civic duty was also an important goal. Thirty- one percent of the food from these gardens was distributed to local food banks and charity.

22 22 How is the food grown in the garden used? (check all that apply) 70% 60% 62.80% 50% 40% 30% 20% 30.70% 19.00% 27.00% 10% 0% 4.40% This garden does Distributed to Used in the school Used for teaching not grow any food. local food bank or charity cafeteria lessons about food for small on- site projects Distributed to families at the school After nearly 100 years, the OSU Extension Program continues to serve a critical role in the Farm to School and School Garden Movement. OSU Extension Staff and volunteers are at the forefront for connecting Oregon schools and local farms, providing health and nutrition education opportunities, and providing youth with a greater understanding and appreciation for agriculture and food systems. By working closely with local schools, school districts, community partners and OSU master volunteers in gardening, youth development and food safety/nutrition, OSU Extension staff are able to deliver research- based information to thousands of Oregonians in a way that is useful for people to improve their lives, their homes and their communities.