Garden Education Programs. FEAST Leadership Network Webinar

Transcription

1 Garden Education Programs FEAST Leadership Network Webinar April 8, 2015

2 Agenda Welcome & Introductions School Gardens Master Gardener Program Seed to Supper Final Questions

3 Our Speakers Caitlin Blethen: Youth Grow Program Director, Growing Gardens Rachel Suits: Educational Program Assistant, Master Gardeners, Small Farms, & SNAP-ED, OSU Extension Christine Hadekel: Garden Education and Training Coordinator, Oregon Food Bank

4 Growing School Gardens Oregon Food Bank webinar, April 2015

5 Growing Gardens Our mission: We promote home-scale organic food gardening to improve nutrition, health and self-reliance while enhancing the quality of life and the environment for individuals and communities in Portland, Oregon. We help people grow their own food, at home and at schools! Who I am: Caitlin Blethen, Youth Grow Program Director We believe the seeds of a healthier world are planted in our own backyards and schoolyards.

6 Growing School Gardens Presentation Outline Getting Started: Gathering Your Team: Stakeholders and the Garden Committee Considering Scope: Matching Assets to Project Goals Garden Space Considerations Educational Activities, examples Summer Maintenance, examples Resources Questions We believe the seeds of a healthier world are planted in our own backyards and schoolyards.

7 What to do before getting started Engage stakeholders to identify goals, resources and capacities to determine the scope of a garden project. Consider: Project stakeholders and ways to engage them Matching project goals with needs of the community Scope of the project We believe the seeds of a healthier world are planted in our own backyards and schoolyards.

8 Stakeholders People with an interest in or concern about your school garden: What are their interests, concerns and priorities? Informs project goals What are points of entry of engagement? Build relationships and test assumptions What are their assets? Assets impact the project goals and scope We believe the seeds of a healthier world are planted in our own backyards and schoolyards.

9 Engaging Stakeholders Stakeholder Principal Potential Interest/Priority Achievement, attracting families Potential Point of entry Set up a meeting via the secretary Potential Assets Prioritizes curriculum Students Time outside In the classroom Program is for them! Experiential education Teachers Enhance curriculum, inquiry, hands-on learning for students Staff meeting, staff room Parents Fresh food PTA/PTO meeting, pickup/drop-off Teaches, knows students interests and skills Time to volunteer, gardening knowledge Staff Beauty on campus Staff meeting Knows students and families After School program staff Opportunity for education after-school Set up meeting or volunteer After-school instruction Neighbors Gardening space, beauty Neighborhood meeting Weekend and summer care We believe the seeds of a healthier world are planted in our own backyards and schoolyards.

10 Developing a Garden Committee Slowing down the process start where you are! Participants from school community Role is to build and maintain garden Develops a work plan We believe the seeds of a healthier world are planted in our own backyards and schoolyards.

11 Developing a Garden Committee Tips: Don t forget to involve the students! Nest the garden committee into another existing meeting or events PTA, staff, Wellness Committee, etc. Develop job titles and descriptions: Parent Liaison, Garden Coordinator, Garden Committee Coord. Etc. Create SMART goals: (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time-sensitive) We believe the seeds of a healthier world are planted in our own backyards and schoolyards.

12 Garden Committee Title/ Role Job description Skills Garden Coordinator Identify garden maintenance (planting, watering etc.) Gardening know how, communication Garden Committee Coordinator Coordinate monthly meetings, facilitate meetings Organized, good listener, facilitation skills Parent/Teacher Liaison Student Representatives Communicate goals, needs, schedules with teachers and parents Gather information from students about project Outgoing, good communication, reliable Leadership We believe the seeds of a healthier world are planted in our own backyards and schoolyards.

13 Scope Scope is the size, scale and intensity of your project. The scope should reflect the needs, capacities and assets of a school. Tips: Dream big! Start small! Build in phases and on successes We believe the seeds of a healthier world are planted in our own backyards and schoolyards.

14 Scope We believe the seeds of a healthier world are planted in our own backyards and schoolyards.

15 Garden Space Tips: Must have administrative support! At least 6 hours of sunlight Access to water Pathways - D.A? Toolshed We believe the seeds of a healthier world are planted in our own backyards and schoolyards.

16 Educational Activities We believe the seeds of a healthier world are planted in our own backyards and schoolyards.

17 Maintenance Create a plan before you build! Watering? Weeding? Harvesting? Maintenance of structures? Summer care? WHO, WHAT, WHERE, HOW? We believe the seeds of a healthier world are planted in our own backyards and schoolyards.

18 Summer Maintenance We believe the seeds of a healthier world are planted in our own backyards and schoolyards.

19 Oregon Resources (some) Growing Gardens School Garden Project of Lane County Rogue Valley Farm to School Food Roots (Tillamook) Oregon Department of Education, Farm to School and School Gardens Program Oregon State University Extension We believe the seeds of a healthier world are planted in our own backyards and schoolyards.

20 National Resources Life Lab Collective School Garden Network School Garden Wizard Growing School Gardens We believe the seeds of a healthier world are planted in our own backyards and schoolyards.

21 School Garden Coordinator Certificate Training Who: Individuals wanting to gain skills to assist schools/youth organizations in establishing quality, long-lasting edible garden-based education programs. What: 35 hours of hands-on certificate training taught by community experts. The training covers: community organizing garden infrastructure teaching garden-based activities adding garden grown produce to school meals resource development/fundraising program evaluation and sustainability and more! Available: Three PSU Continuing Education credits from the Graduate School of Education (additional fee) When: Dates: June 22-26, Monday- Friday, 9am-4pm. Registration opens in April. How: Contact Caitlin Blethen, Youth Grow Director, (503) or for more information and how to register. Cost: $400 Includes training, refreshments and resource binder. Three continuing education credits through the Graduate School of Education at Portland State University are available for additional tuition and coursework. We believe the seeds of a healthier world are planted in our own backyards and schoolyards.

22 Questions? We believe the seeds of a healthier world are planted in our own backyards and schoolyards.

23 Thank You! Caitlin Blethen We believe the seeds of a healthier world are planted in our own backyards and schoolyards.

24 Oregon State University Master Gardener Program Rachel Suits, Education Program Assistant Hood River County Extension Service

25 Hood River County Master Gardener Program Master Gardener Background How can communities work with Master Gardeners? Gardening Tips

26 OSU Master Gardener Program

27 OSU Master Gardener Program

28 OSU Master Gardener Program

29 How do Master Gardener Programs Interact with Communities Plant Clinics Weekly office clinics Farmers Markets Festivals Special Events

30 How do Master Gardener Programs Interact with Communities Community Gardens One Community Health Next Door Inc. Gardens

31 How do Master Gardener Programs Interact with Communities Educational Garden Learning Garden on Extension Grounds

32 How do Master Gardener Programs Interact with Communities Educational Garden Hood River County Library Waterwise Garden

33 How do Master Gardener Programs Interact with Communities Outreach Community Presentations

34 How do Master Gardener Programs Interact with Communities Educational Programs Seed to Supper

35 Community Partners Gorge Grown Food Network Next Door Inc. Hood River County Library Rockford and Parkdale Granges Gorge Heritage Museum One Community Health Care Center Hood River County Fair FISH Food Bank

36 Oregon State University Resources OSU Publications PNW Handbooks WSU Hortsense UC IPM

37 Gardening Resources

38 Gardening Resources Monthly Gardening Calendar April Planning Maintenance and Cleanup Planting and Propagation Pest Management and Monitoring

39 Questions? 39

40 SEED TO SUPPER: Empowering adult learners through garden education FEAST Leadership Network Webinar -- April 8, 2015

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42 What could the effects of food banks be if all the energy that was put into soliciting and distributing wasted food was put into ending hunger and poverty? - Mark Winne, Closing the Food Gap

43 Beyond emergency food Nutrition education Advocacy/ public policy Community food systems organizing Garden education

44 2001: Garden education became part of OFB s long-term strategy

45 OFB s Learning Gardens: Growing vegetables, relationships and hope

46 Increased demand for adult garden education programming Available programs are inaccessible to many potential participants: Time consuming Far away Expensive Limited agency staff time and funds go to curriculum writing Adapting curricula designed for children On-site garden at SnowCap Community Charities, Portland

47 Seed to Supper was born

48 As part of OFB s long-term strategy, Seed to Supper empowers adult learners with transformative experiences that increase community food security and foster long-term solutions to hunger.

49 Seed to Supper: History 2007 Developed by OFB staff in 2007 Included beginning gardening class series and single-session classes Trained volunteers taught classes to over 1,500 participants Collected evaluation results from participants, instructors & agencies 2012 Using evaluation data and input from instructors, OFB partnered with OSU Extension to redesign the curriculum 2013 New curriculum accepted by Extension as Master Gardener primary hours 2014 Curriculum translated into Spanish OFB partners with Satellite Agencies to bring Seed to Supper statewide across Oregon

50 Mutually beneficial partnership Deepens OSU Extension s impact in underserved communities Increases Seed to Supper s credibility and widens volunteer instructor pool

51 Seed to Supper 5-session course offered for free to adults Available in both English and Spanish Offered at senior and affordable housing facilities, tribal agencies, social service agencies, libraries, community centers, neighborhood groups, community gardens

52 Seed to Supper Collaborative Model Seed to Supper program Managing organizations Community host sites Program participants Seed to Supper curriculum co-developed by OFB and OSU Extension Service Oregon Food Bank trains volunteer garden educators to teach free classes OSU Extension Service trains Master Gardeners TM to teach free classes Host Agencies in the Metro areawork closely with OFB to run classes for their clients Satellite Agencies run classes & train volunteer educators independently throughout the state Master Gardener TM Speakers Bureau plans open-enrollment classes for the public Low-income clients of host agencies in the Portland Metro area Low-income clients of agencies outside the Metro area Clients of specialized agencies (i.e. non-profits that serve correctional facilities) General public

53 Seed to Supper Satellite Partners

54 Satellite Partners Recruit participants and volunteer educators Compile the course kits and provide a meeting space Garden space helpful, but not required

55 Topics Garden site and soil development Planning Planting Caring for the growing garden Harvesting and using your bounty Appendix with resources

56 Classroom-based, with flexibility

57 PowerPoint presentations

58 Volunteer Garden Educators Knowledge and experience gardening in the PNW (home gardeners, Master Gardeners) No need to be an expert instructional materials and speaker notes are thorough, and teaching is a great way to learn more!

59 Participants 8-25 participants Adults and other independent learners Varying levels of income, education, literacy, mobility & gardening experience Variety of reasons for attending

60 Participants receive: Gardening book Seeds and/or starts Certificate of completion And new community connections

61 Participant feedback

62 "I am not originally from Oregon so learning how to garden in this climate/geographic region has been extremely helpful! It was also helpful that the instructor shared their personal experience, mistakes and view point... "I'm excited to start putting into practice what I learned. I'm interested in trying new foods and learning how to prepare them because of this class. Thank you! "I have major stress and money issues and this not only uplifted me but helped me to look forward to a new experience in the garden, which is where I always feel better..." "This course has taught me that there are in fact people who are doing what they can to self-sustain life & provide a healthy environment for our future children..." "I registered for a community garden plot because I'm so excited and empowered to garden even more..."

63 Lessons learned Evaluate, evaluate, evaluate It s never just about gardening You re only as strong as your partnerships Learners are experts in their own lives Teaching is an art to be cultivated Let go, and see where folks lead you!

64 Future plans ohands-on activities opopular education tools oresources for gardening on a budget oadapting curriculum for Central/Eastern Oregon growing conditions ocontinued statewide expansion through satellite partners

65 Interested in bringing Seed to Supper to your county? Step 1: Community assessment Identify the need in your area What resources are locally available? (i.e. time, staff, volunteers, community partners, funds for materials purchase) Step 2: Partnership development Connect with local food bank, food pantry, social service agencies, Extension office, Master Gardeners, community garden programs and other relevant partners Step 3: Apply to become a Satellite Partner Contact OFB and learn about Satellite Partner application process Submit a Satellite Partner application

66 Seed to Supper on the web

67 Questions? Christine Hadekel, Garden Education & Training Coordinator

68 Thank You! Tracy Gagnon Christine Hadekel Caitlin Blethen Rachel Suits Connect With Us on Social Media!