1. Los Amigos Technology Academy Garden Project UA Nutrition Network Summer Conference July 19, 2012 Jennifer Flores jenniferf@susd12.org

2. Beginnings….1994 Tucson Botanical Gardens Sembrar y Crecer-Growing Connections 2 nd Grade Parents, Students, and Teachers dug 4 beds in the fall, maintained throughout the school year 2 nd Grade team taught curriculum Students learned mapping skills, native planting seasons, nutrition and food prep Garden was razed in 1999 for new classroom construction…

3. New Start: Make a Difference Day 2004 Materials were donated for a raised 12 bed garden 10 beds outdoors, 2 inside a greenhouse Greenhouse, furniture, and beds were constructed and filled by parent and staff volunteers

4. Materials: All donated for Make a Difference Day Projects since 2004 Bed construction materials Soil Manure Shovels Rakes Gloves Hand tools Seeds Bedding plants Trees Pots Furniture Stepping stones Rain barrels

5. Maintenance Watering: We do not have an irrigation system! (yet) For now it happens by hand-before, during, or after school daily or weekly depending on the season Weeding & raking: some kids hate it, some love it! (think Little Red Hen) Some kids will weed for the promise of a carrot, others just love to get dirty! Crop incompatibility, location & rotation: Some plants help each other grow, some don’t! (think classroom seating chart) Keep track of what did or didn’t grow in certain spots, also when you planted

6. Planting Guides: Community Food Bank Tucson Botanical Gardens UA Cooperative Extension Extreme Gardening Plant for 3 Seasons: October February July

7. Who and When Students Staff Parents Community Volunteers Before, During, & After School

8. Murals by students of Nancy Fish & Zaida Meraz

9. Incorporating Nutrition Fruits & veggies nutrition grant Games & contests Classroom & library read alouds Reading & writing classes After school gardening &cooking class Science & health classes

10. Incorporating Environmental Education: Vermi-compostingWater-harvesting Recycling Club: 3 Rs Reduce Re-use Recycle

11. What I’ve learned: Start small Be persistent Attend free workshops Plan ahead Keep lists (you never know when a grant or benefactor might materialize!) ASK! ASK AGAIN!! KEEP ASKING!!!

12. What’s on the horizon? Seed harvesting Supplying cafeteria Farmer’s market Chickens Tortoise habitat Community gardens partnership

13. Resources UA Cooperative Extension http://extension.arizona.edu/pima/master-gardener Extreme Gardening by Dave Owens, 2000, Poco Verde Landscape http://www.gardenguy.com/ Community Food Bank http://communityfoodbank.com/programs-services/alphabetical- list/garden/ Food &Garden Safety http://nfsmi.org/documentlibraryfiles/PDF/20110822025700.pdf http://nfsmi.org/documentlibraryfiles/PDF/20110822025614.pdf I’m Farming and I Grow It http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48H7zOQrX3U