urban sprouts at green festival

Growing healthier schools and communities through garden-based education

San Francisco Green FestivalNovember 7, 2010

Abby Jaramillo, Executive Director

A Model for Big-Impact School Gardens

Presentation Overview

1. Who We Are2. Why School Gardens3. Our Program Model4. Program Results

Who We Are

OUR MISSIONBy cultivating school gardens in San Francisco’s under-served neighborhoods, Urban Sprouts partners with youth and their families to build eco-literacy, equity, wellness, and community.

Our Programs

SUPPORTS LOW-INCOME SCHOOLS:• Over 700 students/year in 6 San Francisco middle and high schools• 60% low-income students; 95% students of color.

SUPPORTS WIDER COMMUNITY:• ‘Farmers-in-Residence’ program allows parents to grow vegetables and swap

cooking knowledge• ‘Summer Program’ provides youth employment and leadership training

PROVIDES RESEARCH & TOOLS:• Share our research results and program model through trainings and our website.

Our Community

• 61% eligible for free or reduced-price lunch

• 22% English Language Learners (ELL)

• 90% failed to reach fitness standards in all 6 categories (2006)

Of the students at our Partner School Sites…

Our Community

• 61% eligible for free or reduced-price lunch

• 22% English Language Learners (ELL)

• 90% failed to reach fitness standards in all 6 categories (2006)

Aptos MS(Ingleside)

MLK MS(Portola)

June Jordan HS(Excelsior)

Log Cabin Ranch(La Honda, CA)

InternationalStudies Acad.(Potrero Hill)

Ida B Wells Continuation HS(Alamo Sq)

Of the students at our Partner School Sites…

Summer Sprouts(Garden for the Environment)

1970s

18911991

?

1946 - 1st School LunchWWI & WWII

• First Wave: 1891 - 1944. Issue: National Security• Second Wave: 1970s. Issue: Environmentalism

History of School Gardens

WW I Recruiting Posters: the US School Garden Army

Poster photos from Victory Grower - http://groups.ucanr.org/victorygrower

1970s

18911991

?

1946 - 1st School LunchWWI & WWII

Third Wave: 1991, 2009 + Issue: . . . ???

History of School Gardens

Issues today

• Economic Recession• Food Insecurity• Failing public schools• Environmental degradation• Global climate change• Oil dependence

• Hunger• Obesity • Lack of access to healthy

food • Urban violence• Consumerism and

Marketing

WWI & WWII

1970s

1891

1991

Strengthening Schools & Greening School Grounds

Addressing Today’s Issues

WWI & WWII

1970s

1891

2010

Help youth to: succeed academically, eat better, exercise, protect the

environment, and develop resiliency


WWI & WWII

1970s

1891

2010

Improve public health & environmental health


WWI & WWII

1970s

1891

2010

Support economic development &community food security


WWI & WWII

1970s

1891

2010

Are we thinking big enough?

Why do we need a Program Model?

1. A recipe for success2. Consistent but tailored across schools3. Don’t need to reinvent the wheel4. Evidence of outcomes5. A planning tool

Not just ANY school garden will realize these ambitious goals.

We need . . .

Model for Garden-based Education (GBE) in K-12

Curricular Learning Environment

• Soil Tests• Science Experiments• Scavenger Hunts• Taste Tests • Reading Nutrition Facts Food

Labels• Skits and Poster-making• 24-hour Food Diaries

A skit on reading food labels.

Preparing a meal for tasting, made with garden-grown produce.

Physical Learning Environment

• Diverse food crops and perennials• Appealing and interactive natural

environment • Exploring the garden • Planting and tending• Harvesting, preparing and eating

food crops• Participating in cycles - making

compost, seed saving, chicken care

School gardens at Aptos, June Jordan, and MLK (clockwise from top right)

Social Learning Environment

• Cooperation with peers• Responsibility for the garden• Sharing your cultural identity• Relationship-building with peers

and adults• Safe space• Peer teaching• Meaningful work and learning• Making school a better place• Role models for healthy eating

A parent mentors a student at a family Garden Work Day, Burbank MS, San Francisco

Personal Factors

• Academic Knowledge & Life Skills

• Social & moral development– Responsibility, patience,

focus, respect– Problem solving, teamwork,

cooperation– Self-efficacy, self-awareness,

mastery– Sense of purpose, ownership,

happiness, sense of accomplishment, work ethic

Attitudes & Preferences

Ecoliteracy• Empathy• Systems thinking• Ecological knowledge• Environmental

responsibility & ethics

Health & Nutrition• Preferences towards fruits

and vegetables• Attitudes towards healthy

foods

Attitudes towards school, science, and learning

Behavioral Outcomes

• Fruit & Vegetable Consumption

• Healthy School Meals• Physical Activity• Eco-Actions• Academic Success Students harvest, cook, and eat collards, kale and other

greens from the garden at MLK MS, San Francisco.

Evaluation Results: Summer Program, 2007-2009

NUTRITION KNOWLEDGE: Student post-test survey, 3 years combined:

• 72% reported an increase in knowledge of nutrition

• 60% reported their knowledge of nutrition as high or somewhat high (reached 92% in 2009)

Nutrition knowledgebefore summer program

Nutrition knowledgeafter summer program

Evaluation Results: Summer & School Programs, 2007-2009

ATTITUDES TOWARDS HEALTHY FOOD:• 97% reported trying new foods during the program• 57% said they ended up liking foods they thought they

wouldn’t like

Students’ preferences & willingness to try new foods

Evaluation Results: Summer & School Programs, 2007-2009

HEALTHY EATING BEHAVIORS:• 74% of students said that their eating

habits improved during the program (2008, 2009)

One youth’s response to the question, “Have your eating habits changed?“Yes, yes, yes! I don't eat so much candy, chips and soda. I try to eat more fruits. I told my mom about a lot of things I learned here and now she goes to the grocery store and buys more fruits and veggies.”

Contact Information

Urban Sprouts451 Hayes St. 2nd FlSan Francisco, CA 94102(415) 287-0722www.urbansprouts.org

Abby Jaramillo, Executive [email protected]

http://www.urbansprouts.org/

mailto:[email protected]