School Gardens Are Blossoming
Calling all Teachers, Aides and Parent Volunteers! Do you want to learn more about starting or enhancing a school garden? Then don’t miss Explore Ecology’s School Gardening and Composting Workshop on Wednesday, February 6 from 3:45-6:00pm at the Goleta Family School on the Foothill Elementary Campus. Taught by Explore Ecology Education Director Tahara Ezrahti the workshop is suitable for new and experienced gardeners. Topics to be covered include non-toxic organic gardening methods, how to design a school garden as an outdoor classroom, gardens and common core curriculum, nutrition education, composting and much, much more. The workshop also includes tours of two school gardens.
School Gardens Are Beautiful and Educational
School gardens benefit kids in many ways. With nearly 4,000 school gardens blossoming in California alone, research shows that children who grow their own food tend to eat more fruits and vegetables, have a greater understanding of ecology and receive higher test scores in science. Students involved in a one year gardening program showed a significant increase in self-understanding and the ability to work in groups. (Robinson & Zajicek, 2005).
Participants in Explore Ecology’s School Garden Workshop will receive a Garden Detectives curriculum, organic plant starts and handouts. The workshop costs only $5.00 at the door. Worms and worm composting kits will be for sale at the event. Pre-registration is required. Please indicate if you want to purchase worms or worm composting kits when you register. For more information contact Tahara Ezrahti at (805) 884-0459 x 12 or email Tahara@ExploreEcology.org.
Happy Gardening!
Josh was born and raised in Santa Barbara, where his passion and curiosity for the environment began and has continued to grow. During his undergraduate studies, Josh pursued this interest at the University of California at Santa Cruz, receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Studies.
Melissa Dodos developed her passion for creative reuse as a mother of four and elementary educator over the past 25 years. She loves to inspire creativity by connecting people with resources and ideas.
Veronica grew up in San Diego and spent four years in San Luis Obispo studying Animal Science at Cal Poly. As an undergrad she learned lots about livestock, agriculture, and wildlife.
Stephanie began her journey as an educator over twenty years ago working as a preschool teacher in Washington state for a cooperative preschool program affiliated with Whatcom Community College. She loved observing the wonder and curiosity of the children and bringing them out into nature to explore the natural world. She continued her love for learning and got her teaching license and then her Montessori certification and worked as an elementary teacher in Tribal, Public, and Montessori schools. She collaborated to create a school garden and her students loved it so much that it became a special place where they could garden, read, explore, play, and it provided a safe sanctuary for students to calm down and reset when they were having difficult moments.
Morgan’s mermaid soul is always seeking adventure—swimming a relay across the Santa Barbara Channel and taking the first photo of a newborn orca off Anacapa Island being standout experiences close to home.
Lindsay Johnson