SARASOTA COUNTY UF/IFAS EXTENSION & SUSTAINABILITY 6700 Clark Road Twin Lakes Park Sarasota, FL The Journey to Sustainability Begins with Education

Joint Council of Extension Professionals Public Issues Leadership Development 2016 Conference Maria Portelos-Rometo, Ed.D. Stacy Spriggs, P.W.S.

Objectives  The audience will understand the value of having a replicable model to follow.  The audience will understand how collaboration enhances connectivity with other programs and organizations relative to school gardens.  The audience will understand how Sarasota County has been successful with maximizing impacts.

Why invest in gardens?  Hands-on learning  Outdoor classroom  Educational tool  Physical activity  Therapeutic  Special needs  Reaches difficult students  Sparks interest  Empowering

Positive Elements continued…  Career awareness  Fosters teamwork  Nutrition  Willingness to try healthy foods  Sense of fulfillment  Improves scores  Site improvement

Curriculum Areas  Science  Mathematics  Nutrition  Geometry  Culinary Arts  Economics  Physical Education  History  Language Arts  Reading  Art  Agriculture  Natural Resources  Social Studies  Botany

Time for a Change… With the introduction of the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act in 2010, awareness in the value of growing your own food increased. In 2011, Sarasota lacked coordination and standards which created hurdles and confusion. As interest grew, the need for a cohesive program became apparent. Extension hired a dedicated Community and School Gardens Coordinator. Over the following years, a consistent framework for gardens was developed and implemented.

Program Challenges  Vision  Program clarity  Project ownership  Identifying partners  Standardization  Logistics  Resources  Marketing  Outreach  Product research  Volunteer engagement  Designing workshops  Communication

Teacher Challenges  Time  Maintenance  Watering schedule  Access to water  Closing for breaks  Lack of experience  Pest management  Food safety  Organic practices  Lack of support  Funding  Storage  Ongoing enthusiasm  Construction skills  Curricula connections Kidshealth.org

Where do we start?

Framework  Access to UF research  Training on edible gardening  Master Gardener volunteers  Connections to grants and supplies  Networking with other gardens  Curriculum  Partnerships  Start-to-finish guidance on establishing, maintaining, harvesting, and closing

Breaking Down the Silos ChallengesSolutionsPartner Replicable Model Crafted start-to-finish Salsa Garden program, including establishment, maintenance, harvest, and closing. Extension, Growers, Youth Organizations, Teachers & Students

Breaking Down the Silos ChallengesSolutionsPartner ResourcesResearched program elements, which products to use, best practices, organizations, and grants. Extension, Local Businesses

Breaking Down the Silos ChallengesSolutionsPartner CurriculumUtilized Junior Master Gardener, Gardening for Nutrition, and USDA options: YUM YUM-ee Grow It, Try It, Like It! The Great Garden Detective Adventure Dig In! Extension, Florida Dept. of Agriculture, USDA, Texas A&M

Breaking Down the Silos ChallengesSolutionsPartner TrainingDesigned: School Gardens 101 Growing Edibles Locally Master Gardener workshops Community Garden Member Orientation UF/IFAS Extension, Florida Dept. of Agriculture

TRAIN PLAN BUILD PLANT TEACH & GROW HARVEST PUT GARDEN TO BED Replicable Model

Program Impacts through Leadership  Increased internal collaboration  Educational impacts  Easier pathway for teachers  Defined roles and responsibilities  Bringing awareness to the value of school gardens by presenting at national conferences

Partner: Family Nutrition Program  Provides resources and supplies to SNAP-eligible locations  Educates with research- based curricula on nutrition, gardening skills, food safety techniques  Connects farmers with schools to increase purchases of local foods through the Farm to School program  Provides food experiences

FNP Partnership Impacts  685 : Nutrition education classes taught  307 : Garden-themed lessons  63: Harvest lessons  14 : New gardens created  7 : New partnerships created  13.5: Gallons of rainbow bean salad  6,274: Students and staff involved each semester  7,200: Garden seeds distributed each semester  2,100: Starter plants provided each semester

Each semester from present, an average of 4 new salsa gardens have been created. Our Community Gardens Program is also thriving with an efficient framework in place. Ongoing Training And The Growing Continues…. Nokomis Community Garden

Touching the lives of children… our greatest impact! Before After School Gardens School Gardens

Questions? Contact information Maria Portelos-Rometo, Ed.D Clark Road Twin Lakes Park Sarasota, FL Family and Consumer Sciences Agent Stacy Spriggs, P.W.S. Gardens Programs Coordinator Sarasota County UF/IFAS Extension & Sustainability