Who We Are:

Now in our seventh year of service, the School Garden Project of Lane County is a non-profit organization with established connections to 29 local schools. We are working closely with nine partner schools this year.

Jared Pruch, Executive Director and Site Coordinator

Jared worked for years as an outdoor school instructor in California before moving to Oregon to manage a school garden. He joined the School Garden Project in 2007.

Board:

Karen Wildish, President
Practicum Supervisor
Teacher Education, UO
Kate Swords, Treasurer
Associate
SELCO Credit Union
Lorri Nelson, Secretary
Architect, Instructor
Landscape Architecture, UO
Lorna Baldwin
Coordinator
City of Eugene Stream Team
Kate Davidson
Principal
Davidson Strategies
Grace Schubert
Elementary School teacher
Debra Eichner
Elementary School Parent and Volunteer
Sarah Mazze
Program Director
Neighborhood Climate Council

Founder

Emily Dietzman
Garden Manager, Garden-Raised Bounty, Olympia, WA


What We Do:

The School Garden Project provides the following services for local schools:

  • Teaching students in school gardens
  • Organizing garden work parties
  • Assisting with garden construction
  • Recruiting volunteers to help
  • Consulting on site choice and design
  • Organizing a garden committee
  • Advising on curriculum integration
  • Sponsoring teacher in-services and UO School Garden seminars
  • Obtaining donations of gardening materials from local businesses
  • Providing a lending library of gardening tools, books, and videos
  • Maintaining an email listserve and website

    • We also have our own greenhouse operated by volunteer Greenhouse Manager Nick Routledge where we grow vegetable and flower starts for use in school gardens and keep donated starts for re-distribution. In the first year of operation (2006) we distributed over 8,000 plants (not counting onions!) to local school gardens.

    How Can YOU Help?

    DONATE:

    Schools can't afford to pay for more than a small percentage of the cost of the vital services which our organization provides. We need your help to be able to continue to meet the demand for our assistance with local school gardens. Please consider becoming a member, mailing us a check or donating online.

    ATTEND OUR SPRING BENEFIT:

    Our biggest fundraiser of the year is held at the UO Urban Farm and includes buffet dinner, silent auction, school garden displays, student presentations, and music.

    VOLUNTEER:

    Work with teachers and students at school gardens or assist with other School Garden Project work. (Link)