Testimonials

Here are some words from a few people who have worked in collaboration with the School Garden Project.

To Whom it may concern;

I am a teacher at Clear Lake School. We have a small garden in our courtyard that is enjoyed by the entire school. Two second grade classes have taken responsibility for the project. Our garden would not be happening were it not for the support that we get from The School Garden Project. They have helped us in the following ways...and then some;

It is not easy to add one more thing to my plate as a teacher. I continue to do it because when I tell the kids, "We are doing garden today" they get excited...they love it, every one of them...how often can a teacher say that! And I know they will be better stewards of the Earth because of it!

Sincerely,

Marsha Barr

February 10, 2004

To whom it may concern,

This is a letter of support for the School Garden Project. The OutDoor High School currently runs a 2 acre vegetable garden. Our garden supports our curriculum in field science, culinary arts, and language arts. The garden in integrated into nearly every aspect of our school. We serve at risk high school students from several different districts. While students are enrolled in our program they learn cooking skills, propagate methods, hydroponics techniques, and the basics of healthy soil maintenance. The garden could not exist in such splendor without the continued support of the School Garden Project. The School Garden Project has worked with our school to provide us with material support including, seeds, book donations, and advice on planting with youth. They have also conspired to help us with fundraisers which support our garden - such as the school's spaghetti dinner. The School Garden Project has connected our school garden to a larger network of gardens at other schools. Through the School Garden Project our at risk high school students have visited an elementary school's garden and worked as mentors with the younger students. This experience was invaluable in helping our students develop their own facilitation skills and boosting their self-esteem. The School Garden Project is a fantastic organization. It creates and supports garden education that meets the needs of teachers and students in traditional and non-traditional classroom settings. As individual teachers and as a whole school we whole heartedly support the School Garden Project as it expands to meet the needs of more educators and students within Lane County.

Sincerely,

Dawn Granger

Principal - OutDoor High School

Elizabeth Wheat

Field Science Teacher - O.D.H.S.

To Whom it may concern,

Hello! I am writing to thank the School Garden Project for all their help in our school Garden. MeadowView school is a K-8 school that has been accessing services from the SGP for over 4 years now. We have had amazing SGP donations of seeds, plants, and barkchips. We have worked with the SGP to get volunteers and projects accomplished in our garden. Because of the SGP, our garden is here, and it provides an opportunity for all our students to engage in hands-on activities such as growing and caring for plants, maintaining healthy soil, learning about microorganisms such as worms and bugs, and eating the fresh and healthy food we grow! Our science classes make use of the garden for experiements and experiential lessons in life science, invertebrates, soil PH, and the list continues.

In today's modern world, fewer and fewer students are enjoying the heathy benefits of being outside and eating right, the School Garden Project is truly a gift to our community and young people.

Laura Rice

Teacher

Meadow View School

SGP helped get our school garden off the ground a year and a half ago. Volunteers from Emily's class worked on the initial design of the garden and the garden boxes. SGP helped organize a work party. We planted native plants, raspberries, laid bark mulch paths, and built the garden boxes, all with the help of SGP volunteers, community members, parents, teachers, students, and neighbors. For the past two years SGP has had a teacher in our after school program called BEST, two days a week.

Last year they helped us empty the earth tub, and organized other work parties at the garden, built a teaching circle, and put up our green house. A year ago fall, SGP held a Community Harvest Party at our school with great success. What a feast we had.

This year SGP is working at our school two days a week in the after school program, and volunteering in various classrooms, helping teachers take their students out to work in the garden. SGP emptied our earth bin again, and organized a community work party the first of February. SGP is helping revitilize our cafeteria recycling program and our worm bins. SGP wrote a mini grant for our school so that we could purchase more garden supplies. They have helped us in so many ways, I'm probably forgetting to mention some.

As you can see, the SGP has been invaluable in their energy, enthusiasm, time and coordination to our school garden. I know that their help and commitment has been invaluable. We couldn't have done it without them.

Leia Hart

River Road Elementary School

120 W. Hilliard Lane

Eugene, OR 97405

To Whom it may concern,

I have been a volunteer with the School Garden People for about two years now. Having contact with such wonderful, generous people has been a true pleasure. I have had the great honor of helping nurture the lives of some absolutely amazing young people while learning a great deal about garden design and plants from the SGP's great group of knowledgeable people. It is my hope that they will be able to continue their good work and grow stronger as the years go by.

Sincerely,

Bruce Nash