School Garden Grant Program Request School gardens are popping up all over Minnesota. To support this movement Minnesota Ag in the Classroom (MAITC) recently developed a comprehensive Minnesota School Garden Guide. In addition, MAITC will be awarding 25 grants of up to $400 each ($10,000 total) to Minnesota schools for school garden development. These grants are provided by Federal funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Important note: All grant applications are due by May 1, 2014. All grants awarded must be implemented between June 1, 2014, and the end of the 2014 15 school year. Overarching goal for school garden grants: To provide cash awards to K 12 schools for the planning, implementation and/or ongoing support of a school garden; to kick start an idea or concept; or to help grow a school garden already in place. Application submission must include at least one K 12 practicing teacher as a garden partner, and we encourage participation and support from a school administrator and parent representative as appropriate. Important grant judging criteria It is important that you complete the application with sufficient detail and rigor. Poorly thought out or incomplete applications will be denied! We encourage reference to one or more of the Minnesota Academic Standards where appropriate, especially if your grant request is for classroom materials or supplies. And you must provide a detailed budget. Specifically, we encourage you to pursue matching funds or other in kind support from other sources to strengthen your application. All grants will be evaluated by MAITC staff. Please allow up to two weeks following the deadline for review and notification. MAITC reserves the right to deny an application based on quality, adherence to grant criteria and/or available funds. Grantee Information Name *Cathy Heller Phone *952 848 4420 Home Address *212 N 1st Street #304 City, State Zip Minneapolis, MN 55401 School South View Middle School Subject & Grade Level Media Specialist 6 9 * School Address *4725 South View Lane City, State Zip *Edina, MN 55424 Phone 952 848 4420
Email Cathy.Heller@edinaschools.org * Total Grant Amount Requested (Maximum request is $400 per application) *$400 Grant check should be written to *South View Parent Council Updated Version (due to character limits): Explain why you wish to establish or continue developing a school garden? (20 points) We wish to establish a garden at South View Middle School (SVMS) to fulfill a student driven idea to transform an under utilized courtyard area into a vegetable and herb garden beginning with Phase I in spring 2014. The overall project goal is to use the garden as a living laboratory to enrich middle school student learning. Developing the space into an outdoor classroom will provide a hands on tool for core content learning, and will advance our school's ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship, civic engagement, and service learning. Specific aims are to: guide students in the garden layout and design process (24 advanced math students), involve students, parents and staff in garden construction and maintenance (50 100 people), instruct students on how to optimize conditions for growing plants (325 science students), bring awareness to the global and local issues of hunger, nutrition and health, and serve a community need through donating crops to the local food shelf (325 government students), provide education on nutrition and healthy eating choices (325 health/325 family and consumer science students), engage students in learning about the process of civic responsibility, local environmental stewardship, and agriculture and ecosystems through work with community partner, Community Bees on Bikes (60 AP US Government students), develop self sustaining practices through crop sales at SVMS and other venues (30 Cooking and Gardening Club students and 50 Environmental Group students), and offer enrichment opportunities for students enrolled in the Edina Public Schools (EPS) Summer Surge program (60 middle school students). By providing support for raised beds, soil, plants, and tools, this grant will have a significant and positive impact on the 1,300 students enrolled at SVMS, and will enhance
the school curriculum, encourage students to become active participants in the learning process, and strengthen ties with the community. Please describe your current or proposed garden. Include details such as location, size, theme, etc. (20 points) The proposed garden will be located within the center courtyard of SVMS's three story school building. This courtyard, measuring 74'x40, is viewed by students and staff from windows lining hallways, classrooms and the lunchroom. Currently, there are a few trees, grass and a gravel pathway. In Fall 2013, 24 8th grade advanced math students worked with a student teacher in a garden design service project. Collaborating in groups of 4 5, students used an instrument called a "Solar Pathfinder" to determine the optimal planting areas based on amount of sunlight in different locations within the courtyard. They then took measurements to create a site diagram, used math skills to design a dream garden, and performed research to justify their recommendations. In November 2013, the student groups presented their proposals. The two groups with the highest scores presented their proposals a second time with district administrators in attendance. The overall top plan was then selected; this design includes a total of 14 4' x 8' beds for vegetables and herbs, with 12 raised beds and two elevated beds that will allow handicap access. We plan to implement Phase I of the garden in Spring 2014 with installation of three raised beds. A Backyard Farm will provide garden materials and assistance, and SVMS staff, students, and parent volunteers will construct the garden in the morning, then plant a variety of spring vegetables and herbs in the afternoon. Crops will be harvested in late spring/early summer and replaced with summer seedlings. In the fall, the summer crops will be harvested, and fall crops will be planted. Crops were selected by students and include: spring: arugula, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, leeks, lettuce, onions, peas, parsnips, radish; summer: pole beans, brussel sprouts, cucumbers, edamame, pumpkins, peppers, tomatoes, zucchini, squash; fall: turnips, spinach, lettuce, garlic, fennel. Additional crops include beets, carrots, kale, herbs, blueberries, strawberries, sweet potatoes, watermelon. Please list examples of how your garden will benefit students in your school and community. Examples include: achieving Minnesota academic standards, gaining experience growing food, providing enrichment activities for summer learning programs, building partnerships with community groups, etc. (20 points) Students will benefit from the courtyard garden by:
1. Gaining experience with growing food The garden will be integrated into the foods unit in 7th grade Food and Consumer Sciences (FACS) class. Students will identify a variety of vegetables, learn how they grow, and prepare the vegetables for eating in a salad. In 9th grade Health class, students will use the garden to learn about nutrients in foods, organic vs. non organic food choices, and selection of foods to promote healthy lifestyles. 2. Achieving Minnesota academic standards The garden will be used in 8th grade science during a 3 week unit on transforming light energy into chemical energy. Students will design experiments to assess the effect of different light energy and the impact on plant growth, using the garden as the control. Two standards will be fulfilled on photosynthesis and chemical energy (Science 9.4.2.2 and 9C.2.1.3). 3. Service learning In 9th grade US Govt, the garden will be integrated into a year long theme on service learning to teach about citizen's roles and responsibilities. Students will research statutes and legislation that impact a selected issue, serve a community need by helping to donate harvested crops to the local food pantry, and learn about sustainability through crop sales at a school run farmer's market. 4. Building partnerships with community groups In 9th grade AP US Govt, students will be engaged in learning about civic responsibility, environmental stewardship, agriculture, and ecosystems through work with Community Bees on Bikes, a local non profit that provides experiential, in hive educational programming to raise awareness of the vital role that pollinators play in our food system. 5. Providing enrichment for summer learning Summer Surge enrollees will help maintain the garden during the summer and will be responsible for watering, weeding, harvesting, and other tasks. Gardeners from A Backyard Farm will visit once a week from May Oct. 2014 to educate and mentor students on how to maintain the garden. Please describe the title and number of school staff, students and parent volunteers who will participate in this school garden experience. (20 points) For the past year, SVMS has been laying the groundwork for a school garden. In May 2013, 8 teachers participated in a grant funded 2 day workshop to receive training on incorporating the garden into their curricula. Sessions were led by LifeLabs, a national leader in farm/garden education, based in Santa Cruz, CA. In addition, 2 teachers attended a garden conference at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in 2013 and 2014. The core group of 10 SVMS teachers who will be responsible for maintaining the garden during the school year, along with one staff member during the summer are: Cathy Heller Media Specialist, gr. 6 9, developed a hydroponic garden program, spearheaded the teacher garden training program, and co advises the Cooking and Gardening Club.
Dana Roth Family and Consumer Science (FACS) teacher, gr. 7, works with students to maintain a hydroponic garden and uses harvested produce in cooking classes. Carissa McCartan FACS teacher, gr. 8 9. Cooking and Gardening Club co advisor Steve Freese Math teacher, gr. 6, SVMS Environmental Group (SVEG) co advisor Gretchen Lund ESL teacher, gr. 6 9, SVEG co advisor Tyler Moberg Science teacher, gr. 8 Amy Gilbertson Phys Ed/Health teacher, gr. 6 9 Christopher Dunn Health teacher, gr. 7 Greg Banko Extended Summer Program Coord., gr. 6 9 Lori Volding Phys Ed teacher, gr. 6 9 Carrie Proctor Summer Surge Program Manager Primary SVMS parent volunteers: Mary Dalsin master gardener Jen Livingston, Cheryl Dulas set up a garden at a local elementary school An additional 50+ parents have signed up to assist students with maintaining the garden, delivering harvested produce to the local food shelf, running a farmer's market, and planning harvest festivals. SVMS principal, Beth Russell; EPS Director of Teaching and Learning, Randy Smasal; and EPS Building and Grounds manager, Curt Johansen support the project and will be participants. We hope to engage all 1300 SVMS students by incorporating the garden in the curriculum, and by providing them with an outdoor space to learn and grow. Budget information School Garden Grant budget: Please include a detailed breakdown of expenses directly related to your grant request. We ask that you also list any other matching monetary or in kind resources which support your request. (20 points) Detailed budget (Phase I) $2,400 4'x8' cedar bed kits (3 @ $800) includes 20 year weed barrier, soil mixture (organic soil, vermiculite), garden grid $300 4 x8 trellises (3 @ $100) $300 Drip irrigation system (3 @ $100) $250 Spring seedlings and guidance with planting from A Backyard Farm, a local (St. Paul, MN) gardening company with expertise in organic gardening in the urban setting $250 Summer seedlings and guidance with planting from A Backyard Farm $1,200 A Backyard Farm education/mentoring/maintenance May through October 2014 (24 weeks @ $50/wk) $575 Tools and supplies Garden hose (100 ) 1@$50=$50 Hoes 3@$25=$75
Shovels 3@$25=$75 Trowels 25@$3=$75 Gloves 25@$4=$100 Wheelbarrow 1@$100=$100 Weeder/pruner/cultivator set 5@$20=$100 $325 6 x 3 resin storage shed $50 Fall crops (seeds donated by Bachman's) $100 Refreshments for staff/students/volunteers helping with garden installation and planting (donated by Whole Foods) TOTAL: $5,750 Matching Funds/Grants: $2,200 Summer Surge program $1,000 SVMS Parent Council (Parent Teacher Organization) $2,000 Whole Kids Foundation grant $50 Bachman's (donation of seeds) $100 Whole Foods (donation of refreshments) TOTAL: $5,350 Because the courtyard garden is an ongoing project, we will continue to build on what is in place, and additional phases will be implemented once funds are secured through grants and donations. We anticipate that additional beds will be able to be installed in Fall 2014 or Spring 2015.