12 – Register Now!

Posted on August 31, 2015 by Ian

“Ultimately, it is volunteers who make it possible for kids to experience the school garden in a meaningful way.”

Whether you are currently volunteering in a school garden or just starting to think about getting your hands dirty… this free training event is for you! Learn simple, effective techniques and strategies for helping kids (and plants!) thrive.

We hope you can attend one of these two (identical) sessions:

Friday September 11, 9:00-noon
Saturday September 12, 9:00-noon

Location:

Northlake Elementary

“Garden Lab” Room 26 (2nd portable)

2210 Olympia Way

Longview, WA 98632

We will work in the classroom as well as out in the garden – there will be plenty of hands-on learning!

Topics include:

Why school gardens?
Garden activities and lessons
Starting seeds indoors and outside
Composting with kids
Cooking with kids
Garden safety
Group management strategies
Inquiry Based Learning
School Garden Resources
The Garden Coordinator
And more!

Enjoy learning and connecting with great people who have a shared passion for kids, gardens and good food. Snacks provided. Meet new garden rabbits Sam and Sorrel.

This training is free! All are welcome, even those outside Cowlitz County.

To register, simply email ian@lcschoolgardens.org:

please specify which day works best for you.

See you there!

Audubon partners with School Gardens

Posted on August 23, 2015 by Ian

Willapa Hills Audubon supported local school gardens in an important way in the 2014-2015 year – they sponsored a garden AmeriCorps position for $5,000! This allowed Lower Columbia School Gardens to increase our reach significantly, and connect hundreds more kids and families with real food and hands-on learning in school gardens.

Willapa Hills also partnered with Lower Columbia School Gardens on a bird-box building event in January, when 28 Monticello Middle School students learned about birds and habitat, then assembled a cedar bird box to take home. We see these kids as future advocates for a greener world because of these experiences – thank you Audubon!

LCSG brings the School Garden spirit to Squirrel Fest

Posted on August 21, 2015 by Hillary Ann

Kids and adults alike enjoyed decorating the garden wigwam with their hand drawn fruits and vegetables. — Kids of all ages enjoyed decorating the garden wigwam with hand-drawn fruits and vegetables.

August usually means a break from classes for students, but it’s the time of year when School Gardens are in full swing with summer programs. Summer also provides many opportunities for us to participate in community events around our area and Squirrel Fest is one Longview event not to be missed. All proceeds from Squirrel Fest this year went to Cowlitz County Habitat for Humanity.

Students and school garden volunteers shape the dough for garden pizzas.

School Gardens had a fun set-up in the Kids’ Area at the event this year that included:

– Handing out free garden seeds

– Offering samples of right-out-of-the-oven delicious garden pizza

– Giving visitors a chance to decorate a garden wigwam with hand-drawn pictures of fruits and vegetables

Pizzas were topped with fresh garden ingredients and made by students and volunteers on-site.

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Students and volunteers march in Longview Go Fourth Parade

Posted on August 2, 2015 by Hillary Ann

More than 40 kids and adults gathered early on the 4th of July to decorate the Garden trailers with colorful flowers, herbs and grasses picked fresh shortly beforehand. Once everyone arrived at their place in the parade line, more fresh flowers were used to assemble flower crowns for each person. Everyone looked like a sweet garden fairy! It was a lovely day marching together beneath the tall, shade-giving trees of Longview as the community gathered to celebrate. Seed packets were handed out (in lieu of candy) by students riding in brightly painted wheelbarrows, holding signs and flags that boldly declared “Eat Real Food”. You can be sure that the School Gardens had the most colorful float that day.

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