BASIC INFORMATION. If anyone else helped fill out this survey, please list their name, role, and contact information. Name: Role:

Transcription

1 MPS School Garden Survey MPS is conducting a school garden survey! Whether or not your school has a garden, we'd like EVERY MPS SCHOOL to complete the following survey. It should take minutes to complete if your school has a school garden; less if your school does not. The information gathered from this survey will help MPS and Youth Farm better understand how school gardens operate and what garden needs are so that we can provide support. This survey may take more than one person to fill out! Please work with teachers, partners, volunteers, or students involved in your school garden to answer the questions as completely as possible. If you have questions, please contact Callie Recknagel at school.gardens@mpls.k12.mn.us. Sincerely, MPS Nutrition Services & Youth Farm BASIC INFORMATION * Required question *School name: *Your name: * address: *Phone number: *Your role: o Teacher o School Administrator o Other School Staff o Student n- MPS support organization staff (not on school payroll, eg. non- profit, after school, or cooperative extension staff) o Community Volunteer o Parent/family member volunteer o Other: If anyone else helped fill out this survey, please list their name, role, and contact information. Name: Role: Contact information: Did you know that MPS Culinary and Nutrition Services has a Farm to School program that sources fresh, local food from small farms in the area for school meals? *Does your school currently have a garden on your school property (for the purposes of this survey: an outdoor growing space that includes edible plants)? (Fill out Survey A Have a school garden) (Fill out Survey B Do not have a school garden)

2 SURVEY A Have a School Garden GARDEN INFORMATION Please provide the name, role and contact information of the main school garden contact (if different than above). Name: Role: Contact information: When was your school garden started? o Within the last year o 1-2 years ago o 2-4 years ago o 5-7 years ago o 7-10 years ago o Other: Describe where the garden is on your school site. (i.e. the west side of the building, 20 feet past the parking lot) What is the estimated square footage of your school garden? What types of plants exist/will be grown in your school garden this academic year? o Vegetables o Herbs o Berries o Fruit trees o Other fruits (i.e. melons, grapes) o Flowers o Minnesota Native Plants o Other:

3 What features does your school garden have? o Raised beds o In- the- ground beds in one or more areas o Planters/pots o Sink(s) or wash station o Outdoor covered harvest prep area o Outdoor uncovered harvest prep area o Fencing o Food prep/kitchen area o Weather station o Compost area o Worm bins o Tool shed/storage area o Outdoor teaching area (benches, tables, seated gathering area, etc) o Theme gardens o Rainwater harvesting o Solar panels o Pond or water feature o Interpretive signage o Automated irrigation system o Greenhouse o Hoophouse o Domestic animals (chickens, ducks, rabbits, etc.) o Hydro/Aquaponics o Other: Has your school garden soil been tested? Has your school garden been approved by the MPS Facilities department? Is your school garden on park property? GARDEN USE Which of the following audiences use the school garden? o Students o School teachers/staff o Parents/family members o After- school program participants o Summer program participants o Community members o Volunteers o Community partner organization o Other: When is the school garden space used? o During class instruction time o During recess o During lunchtime o Before school o After school o Weekends o Summer program/camp o Other:

4 What month(s) of the year is the school garden used (in a typical year)? o January o February o March o April o May o June o July o August o September o October vember o December Describe how often and how many students use the garden. (i.e. 3 classes use it weekly, individual students use it occasionally during class time, all classes visit once a year as a field trip experience) Who manages the FUNDRAISING, PLANNING & COORDINATION for the school garden? o Other: Who maintains the school garden DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR? o Other:

5 Who maintains the school garden DURING THE SUMMER? o Other: Outside of teaching time, how many hours per week are spent maintaining the garden (during the growing season)? What grade level(s) participate in garden programming at your school DURING THE SCHOOL DAY? o Pre- K o Kindergarten o First o Second o Third o Fourth o Fifth o Sixth o Seventh o Eighth o Ninth o Tenth o Eleventh o Twelfth ne What grade level(s) visit the school garden DURING OUT OF SCHOOL TIME? o Pre- K o Kindergarten o First o Second o Third o Fourth o Fifth o Sixth o Seventh o Eighth o Ninth o Tenth o Eleventh o Twelfth ne GARDEN PRODUCE HOW is produce from the garden used? o Outdoor cooking or snacking o Classroom activities (such as tastings) o Incorporated in school meals o Students or community members take it home o Donated o Sold o Other:

6 WHEN is produce from the school garden used? (Use your best estimate.) Check one box per row. During the school day During out of school time Not used Very little or none of the produce Some of the produce Most of the produce All of the produce How and where is the school garden produce WASHED and PREPARED, and who is involved? GARDEN EDUCATION Who leads garden education DURING THE SCHOOL DAY? o Other: Who leads garden education DURING OUT OF SCHOOL TIME PROGRAMMING? o Other:

7 In what curricular areas is the school garden used? o Science o Nutrition/Health o English/Language Arts o Visual and Performing Arts o Mathematics o Physical Education o History/Social Science ne o Other: Which of the following positive observations have you made in your school garden participants? Choose your top three choices. o Increased environmental attitude(s) o Increased community engagement o Increased social skills/behaviors o Increased leadership skills o Improved attitude towards school o Sense of volunteerism o Improvements in health and nutrition o Improved motor skills o Academic gains ne o Other: If you checked "academic gains" above, please describe where you have noticed academic gains. (i.e. math, reading, test scores, focus, academic improvement in underperforming students) What challenges have you encountered in implementing a school garden? Choose your top three choices o Lack of staffing o Little to no knowledge about gardening o Lack of garden supplies o Lack of funding o Difficulty linking to core academic standards o Lack of volunteers interest in having a garden o Inadequate space o The risk of vandalism o Time constraints o Few or no instructional materials o Lack of technical assistance with gardening o Other: Does your school do anything to promote healthy eating/fruits and vegetables in the cafeteria? FUNDING/PARTNERSHIPS During a typical academic year what is your annual total school garden budget? (for materials and support staff salary/stipend) o I don t know o $0 o $1-500 o $ o $ $2500 o Other:

8 From whom has your school garden received funds during this and last academic year? o School or district funds o Individual donations o Community/business donations o Grants and/or foundations o PTA/PTO funds n- MPS support organization o In kind materials ne o Other: Which support organizations have collaborated with your school garden on fundraising, teaching, coordination, curriculum, etc.? o Appetite for Change o Beez Kneez o Bell Museum o Farms o Gardening Matters o Harvest Moon Edible Landscapes o Jeffers Foundation o Kids Cook Classroom o Local restaurants o Master Gardeners o Metro Blooms o Midwest Food Connection o MPS Nutrition Services o Project Sweetie Pie o Spark- Y o Whole Kids Foundation o Youth Farm o Other: GARDEN SUPPORT What support topic(s) would most benefit your school garden program? Choose your top three choices. o Basics of building a school garden: Fundraising, community building, budgeting, starting a garden, etc. o Gardening skills o Garden- based learning instruction o Outdoor classroom management o Connecting garden curriculum with academic standards and classroom activities o Garden- enhanced nutrition education o English language learning in the garden o Youth empowerment o Food justice o Other: What other kind(s) of support would most benefit your school garden program? Choose your top three choices. o Access to garden- based curriculum/education materials o Lesson planning time o Administrative support o Volunteer support o Funding o Time scheduled within the school day for garden instruction o Support from a community partner organization in teaching garden lessons o Garden coordinator staff position o Technical assistance for gardening o Networking events o Other:

9 What type(s) of support would be helpful? Choose your top three choices. o On- site training o Off- site workshop o Conferences or seminars o Webinars o Online courses o E- mail list o E- newsletter o Social networking site o Quarterly meetings o Website o Other: What type(s) of program evaluation or assessment have you used for your school garden program, if any? Would you be interested in participating in a follow- up conversation to help determine how MPS and Youth Farm can support school gardens in Minneapolis? Is there anything else you'd like to share about your school garden? THANK YOU FOR COMPLETING THIS SURVEY! Please return your completed survey via inter- district mail to the MPS Nutrition Center, Attn: School Gardens; fax to ; or scan and to school.gardens@mpls.k12.mn.us.