urban sprouts at green festival

Growing healthier schools and communities through garden-based education

San Francisco Green FestivalNovember 7, 2010

Abby Jaramillo, Executive Director

A Model for Big-Impact School Gardens

Presentation Overview

1. Who We Are2. Why School Gardens3. Our Program Model4. Program Results

Who We Are

OUR MISSIONBy cultivating school gardens in San Francisco’s under-served neighborhoods, Urban Sprouts partners with youth and their families to build eco-literacy, equity, wellness, and community.

Our Programs

SUPPORTS LOW-INCOME SCHOOLS:• Over 700 students/year in 6 San Francisco middle and high schools• 60% low-income students; 95% students of color.

SUPPORTS WIDER COMMUNITY:• ‘Farmers-in-Residence’ program allows parents to grow vegetables and swap

cooking knowledge• ‘Summer Program’ provides youth employment and leadership training

PROVIDES RESEARCH & TOOLS:• Share our research results and program model through trainings and our website.

Our Community

• 61% eligible for free or reduced-price lunch

• 22% English Language Learners (ELL)

• 90% failed to reach fitness standards in all 6 categories (2006)

Of the students at our Partner School Sites…

Our Community

• 61% eligible for free or reduced-price lunch

• 22% English Language Learners (ELL)

• 90% failed to reach fitness standards in all 6 categories (2006)

Aptos MS(Ingleside)

MLK MS(Portola)

June Jordan HS(Excelsior)

Log Cabin Ranch(La Honda, CA)

InternationalStudies Acad.(Potrero Hill)

Ida B Wells Continuation HS(Alamo Sq)

Of the students at our Partner School Sites…

Summer Sprouts(Garden for the Environment)

Presentation Overview

1. Who We Are2. Why School Gardens3. Our Program Model4. Program Results

1970s

18911991

?

1946 - 1st School LunchWWI & WWII

• First Wave: 1891 - 1944. Issue: National Security• Second Wave: 1970s. Issue: Environmentalism

History of School Gardens

WW I Recruiting Posters: the US School Garden Army

Poster photos from Victory Grower - http://groups.ucanr.org/victorygrower

1970s

18911991

?

1946 - 1st School LunchWWI & WWII

Third Wave: 1991, 2009 + Issue: . . . ???

History of School Gardens

Issues today

• Economic Recession• Food Insecurity• Failing public schools• Environmental degradation• Global climate change• Oil dependence

• Hunger• Obesity • Lack of access to healthy

food • Urban violence• Consumerism and

Marketing

WWI & WWII

1970s

1891

1991

Strengthening Schools & Greening School Grounds

Addressing Today’s Issues

WWI & WWII

1970s

1891

2010

Help youth to: succeed academically, eat better, exercise, protect the

environment, and develop resiliency

Addressing Today’s Issues

WWI & WWII

1970s

1891

2010

Improve public health & environmental health

Addressing Today’s Issues

WWI & WWII

1970s

1891

2010

Support economic development &community food security

Addressing Today’s Issues

WWI & WWII

1970s

1891

2010

Are we thinking big enough?

Presentation Overview

1. Who We Are2. Why School Gardens3. Our Program Model4. Program Results

Why do we need a Program Model?

1. A recipe for success2. Consistent but tailored across schools3. Don’t need to reinvent the wheel4. Evidence of outcomes5. A planning tool

Not just ANY school garden will realize these ambitious goals.

We need . . .

Model for Garden-based Education (GBE) in K-12

Curricular Learning Environment

• Soil Tests• Science Experiments• Scavenger Hunts• Taste Tests • Reading Nutrition Facts Food

Labels• Skits and Poster-making• 24-hour Food Diaries

A skit on reading food labels.

Preparing a meal for tasting, made with garden-grown produce.

Physical Learning Environment

• Diverse food crops and perennials• Appealing and interactive natural

environment • Exploring the garden • Planting and tending• Harvesting, preparing and eating

food crops• Participating in cycles - making

compost, seed saving, chicken care

School gardens at Aptos, June Jordan, and MLK (clockwise from top right)

Social Learning Environment

• Cooperation with peers• Responsibility for the garden• Sharing your cultural identity• Relationship-building with peers

and adults• Safe space• Peer teaching• Meaningful work and learning• Making school a better place• Role models for healthy eating

A parent mentors a student at a family Garden Work Day, Burbank MS, San Francisco

Personal Factors

• Academic Knowledge & Life Skills

• Social & moral development– Responsibility, patience,

focus, respect– Problem solving, teamwork,

cooperation– Self-efficacy, self-awareness,

mastery– Sense of purpose, ownership,

happiness, sense of accomplishment, work ethic

Attitudes & Preferences

Ecoliteracy• Empathy• Systems thinking• Ecological knowledge• Environmental

responsibility & ethics

Health & Nutrition• Preferences towards fruits

and vegetables• Attitudes towards healthy

foods

Attitudes towards school, science, and learning

Behavioral Outcomes

• Fruit & Vegetable Consumption

• Healthy School Meals• Physical Activity• Eco-Actions• Academic Success Students harvest, cook, and eat collards, kale and other

greens from the garden at MLK MS, San Francisco.

Presentation Overview

1. Who We Are2. Why School Gardens3. Our Program Model4. Program Results

Evaluation Results: Summer Program, 2007-2009

NUTRITION KNOWLEDGE: Student post-test survey, 3 years combined:

• 72% reported an increase in knowledge of nutrition

• 60% reported their knowledge of nutrition as high or somewhat high (reached 92% in 2009)

Nutrition knowledgebefore summer program

Nutrition knowledgeafter summer program

Evaluation Results: Summer & School Programs, 2007-2009

ATTITUDES TOWARDS HEALTHY FOOD:• 97% reported trying new foods during the program• 57% said they ended up liking foods they thought they

wouldn’t like

Students’ preferences & willingness to try new foods

Evaluation Results: Summer & School Programs, 2007-2009

HEALTHY EATING BEHAVIORS:• 74% of students said that their eating

habits improved during the program (2008, 2009)

One youth’s response to the question, “Have your eating habits changed?“Yes, yes, yes! I don't eat so much candy, chips and soda. I try to eat more fruits. I told my mom about a lot of things I learned here and now she goes to the grocery store and buys more fruits and veggies.”

Contact Information

Urban Sprouts451 Hayes St. 2nd FlSan Francisco, CA 94102(415) 287-0722www.urbansprouts.org

Abby Jaramillo, Executive Directorabby@urbansprouts.org