Programs
6th Grade Gardening and Cooking
Students have gardening every other week with their core classes. The garden teachers go to the classroom and teach a twenty minute lesson on a gardening topic, such as the importance of compost (ask any student about the time Mr. Matt threw money in the trash!), nutrition, and food systems. After the in-class lesson, the class splits into three groups and heads out to the garden. The students are responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the garden, and with their classes do everything and anything that needs to be done; from harvesting and planting, to sifting compost and turning garden beds. At the end of every class the students share a snack from the garden.
Every other week when students aren't in the garden, they are in the kitchen. In the kitchen, they are split into three groups, with each group preparing food for their table. The recipes follow the Harvest of the Month, highlighting seasonal and fresh ingredients. For example, in September we cooked bruschetta with fresh tomatoes from the garden.
Students have gardening every other week with their core classes. The garden teachers go to the classroom and teach a twenty minute lesson on a gardening topic, such as the importance of compost (ask any student about the time Mr. Matt threw money in the trash!), nutrition, and food systems. After the in-class lesson, the class splits into three groups and heads out to the garden. The students are responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the garden, and with their classes do everything and anything that needs to be done; from harvesting and planting, to sifting compost and turning garden beds. At the end of every class the students share a snack from the garden.
Every other week when students aren't in the garden, they are in the kitchen. In the kitchen, they are split into three groups, with each group preparing food for their table. The recipes follow the Harvest of the Month, highlighting seasonal and fresh ingredients. For example, in September we cooked bruschetta with fresh tomatoes from the garden.
Growing Leaders Business Elective
Our Growing Leaders business elective is a fun and exciting class! Our thirty 7th and 8th graders meet every day to garden, cook, and learn about the myriad pieces involved in starting a business and raising money. Our goal our pilot year was to raise $20,000 by the end of the school year by selling monthly/bimonthly meals using produce grown in the garden and prepared by the students. Our students surpassed all expectations and raised over $30,000 that went straight back to support and keep the program sustainable. Click here to learn more, find links to press articles, and to reserve your own portion of the next Growing Leaders meal!
Our Growing Leaders business elective is a fun and exciting class! Our thirty 7th and 8th graders meet every day to garden, cook, and learn about the myriad pieces involved in starting a business and raising money. Our goal our pilot year was to raise $20,000 by the end of the school year by selling monthly/bimonthly meals using produce grown in the garden and prepared by the students. Our students surpassed all expectations and raised over $30,000 that went straight back to support and keep the program sustainable. Click here to learn more, find links to press articles, and to reserve your own portion of the next Growing Leaders meal!
High School Internship
There are currently 8 students from Berkeley Technical Academy in our peer mentorship program. These students join our middle school classes once a week and become peer educators. We believe that teaching is the best way for them to learn and aquire skils that will assist them in college and career readiness. Currently these students receive school credit for their time with us.
There are currently 8 students from Berkeley Technical Academy in our peer mentorship program. These students join our middle school classes once a week and become peer educators. We believe that teaching is the best way for them to learn and aquire skils that will assist them in college and career readiness. Currently these students receive school credit for their time with us.
Teen Summer Employment
During the summer, we employ a group of teens ages 14-18. For many of these students, this is a first-time job, and an opportunity to get paid, have structure, and be responsible. In past years, students have maintained the gardens at John Muir Elementary, Emerson Elementary, LaConte Elementary, Longfellow Middle School, and Willard Middle School, working four days a week for several hours. The produce was then sold to local pizzerias such as Gioya Pizza in North Berkeley and Pizzaiolo in the Temescal district of Oakland.
During the summer, we employ a group of teens ages 14-18. For many of these students, this is a first-time job, and an opportunity to get paid, have structure, and be responsible. In past years, students have maintained the gardens at John Muir Elementary, Emerson Elementary, LaConte Elementary, Longfellow Middle School, and Willard Middle School, working four days a week for several hours. The produce was then sold to local pizzerias such as Gioya Pizza in North Berkeley and Pizzaiolo in the Temescal district of Oakland.
