Building an Integrated Sustainable Garden Program at the District Level Laurel Mattrey, Denver Public Schools Gigia Kolouch, Slow Food Denver Jessica Romer, Denver Urban Gardens Allen Potter, Denver Green School
DPS Garden and Greenhouse Program - Overview 90 Built-out Gardens district-wide 3 Gardens of Youth 3 Urban Farms 11 Greenhouses Garden and Greenhouse Program Coordinator Learning Landscape Program 99 School Grounds Denver School Garden Coalition Construction Standards for Landscaping, Structures, Soil Testing, Irrigation Garden to Cafeteria Program
DPS Garden and Greenhouse Program - History DPS Bond Program funded garden sites (not necessarily fully built out) in 66 Learning Landscapes since 2000 8 Greenhouses built on to original school buildings, 4 free standing Memorandum of Understanding with Denver Urban Gardens for School-Based Community Gardens in 2009 Program Coordinator position created in 2010 in Sustainability First Urban Farm developed on Denver Green School property through Memorandum of Understanding with Sprout City Farms in 2011 Denver School Garden Coalition started in 2011 Garden to Cafeteria Program housed in Food and Nutrition Services starting in 2012
DPS Garden and Greenhouse Program - Infrastructure Sustainability Office Garden and Greenhouse Program Coordinator, Fundraising, Water Conservation/Billing, Programming Grounds Department Site Review, Irrigation, Fencing, Materials Loans, Tree Planting Planning Department Site Review and Analysis, Standards Review/Update GIS and Archives Site Plans and Updates Structural Shop Shed, Greenhouse and Storage Analysis and Building Assistance Extended Learning and Community Schools Partnership Agreements, Volunteer Background Checks Food and Nutrition Services Garden to Cafeteria, Safe Food Handling Training, Urban Farm Program
SLOW FOOD IN THE GARDEN Gigia Kolouch gigia@slowfooddenver.org www.slowfooddenver.org/www.sfdseettotable.org Promoting food that is good, clean and fair for all.
Slow Food is an international organization with more than 150,000 members in over 150 countries. Slow Food Denver is one of 200 chapters in the United States. www.slowfood.com www.slowfoodusa.org www.slowfooddenver.org www.sfdseedtotable.org
Slow Food Denver Seed-to-Table Program began in 2002 with 3 participating DPS schools. We now serve over 50 schools with programming and resources.
Slow Food Denver s Seed To Table School Food Program creates meaningful relationships between young people and food in order to transform the school food system. By placing an emphasis on handson experiences, community interaction, and the pleasures of the table, SFD-STT projects help to strengthen the food communities of tomorrow by engaging youth today.we work closely with Denver area schools to teach students where their food comes from, how to prepare it, who grows it, the importance of food choices and the pleasure of sharing with friends and family.
Achievements: Wrote the Denver School Garden Coalition Manual with Denver Urban Gardens Designed the Garden to Cafeteria Program with DPS Food Services Designed and run the Denver Youth Farmer's Market Coalition with DUG Developed cooking class food safety protocols for DPS schools Provide seeds and resources to member schools Host monthly professional development workshops Assist with fundraising and providing garden microgrants.
Tips for Learner Driven Cooking 1. Investigate with your senses.
2. Learn a Technique
3. Combine cooking technique with ingredients using sensory feedback.
Use Recipes for further exploration
For more information: http://www.sfdseedtotable.org/resources/ Gigia@slowfooddenver.org
growing community one urban garden at a time
A Network of Community Gardens 130 gardens 257 tons grown per year; 25 tons donated per year Denver Urban Gardens comes alongside residents, and together, we grow community one urban garden at a time. DUG offers neighborhoods the essential resources for community gardens, including ongoing technical expertise.
What is a school-based community garden? An intentionally created space for school and surrounding community members to interact and support one another
Denver Urban Gardens in the schools Gardening and multidisciplinary education Nutrition, wellness and healthy food preparation Community connections and development
DUG school-focused resources General public Metro wide DUG school-based community gardens
Jessica Romer jessica@dug.org 303.292.9900 www.dug.org
The Denver Green School Allen Potter, Founding Partner and 6 th Grade Teacher
Question: What do you think have been the most important factors in the evolution of Denver Public Schools sustainable garden program?