Summertime in School Gardens is full of opportunities to help – from weeding, watering, and harvesting, to helping out at the Northlake Produce Sale on Wednesdays. Get in touch with us if you’re interested in being part of the fun!
Author: Hillary Ann
Looking forward to 2018 Spring Garden Programs!
We can’t wait for Spring to arrive – to see new green growth emerging in the gardens, reconnect with students in their outdoor classrooms, and work alongside our amazing team of volunteers.
Our Spring Garden Season is going to look a little different this year – it is split into two 5-week sessions, with a week-long break in between:
- Session One: March 19 – April 27 (Spring Break also falls within this first session)
- Garden Break: April 30 – May 4
- Session Two: May 7 – June 8
As you may already know, one day a week schools have After School Garden Clubs and/or School Day Garden Programs (during recess or scheduled class time).
In general, here’s the plan for the Spring Season:
- After School Garden Clubs that are facilitated primarily by LCSG staff will take place during ONE of the 5-week sessions.
- School Day Garden Programs will take place during BOTH 5-week sessions.
And yet one more way to say it: After School Garden Clubs are 5 weeks long, and School Day Garden Programs are 10 weeks long. There are some exceptions to this model, mostly involving schools where volunteer or teacher garden coordinators have stepped up and are facilitating garden programs without regular assistance from LCSG staff.
Take a look at the Spring Schedule below…
We are humbled and grateful for the ongoing support of this community. Our small staff is continually “building the plane as we are flying it”- always learning how to better distribute our time and resources more equitably in order to reach kids at all 18 School Gardens in Longview and Kelso. Your feedback and patience is appreciated and helpful as we make changes and try new things.
The School Gardens in this community are a result of many people saying, “yes!” to spaces for our kids to learn about real food, the natural world, and to practice being healthy, kind humans.
Please stay tuned for information specific to your students’ School Garden as the season approaches.
Special Evening Produce Sale this Wednesday from 5 to 7
School Garden Produce Sales have been taking place Wednesdays from 10 to 1 in the Northlake Elementary School Garden all summer long, with students proudly selling the gorgeous produce they’ve grown and tended.
This Wednesday we’re breaking a bit with tradition and hosting a special Evening Produce Sale as a last hurrah before we begin Fall Garden Programs. There are still so many beautiful fruits and vegetables to be tasted and savored before the season ends.
We hope you’ll stop by for this special event.
School Garden Produce Sale: Special Evening Edition
Wednesday, Sept 6th, 5:00 to 7:00
Northlake School Garden
2210 Olympia Way
FREE Volunteer Training with School Gardens – Sept 8th & 9th, 2017
The first Volunteer Training of the new school year is coming up very soon!
School Gardens staff members are looking forward to meeting new
friends, as well as welcoming back familiar ones.
Two identical sessions are offered:
– Friday, September 8th, 9:00 to noon –
OR
– Saturday, September 9th, 9:00 to noon –
Register by sending an email to ian@LCschoolgardens.org and
specifying which day you plan to attend.
Spring 2017 Garden programs begin March 6th, 2017
Weekly Spring Garden programs begin on Monday, March 6th, 2017
– this means a lot of good things, including weekly volunteer opportunities!
If you haven’t volunteered with us before, please email our Volunteer Coordinator julia@lcschoolgardens.org and
we’ll get you plugged in with the garden or activity that’s right for you and your schedule.
Every hour you’re able to contribute as a volunteer – whether it’s on a weekly, monthly, or even an
annual basis – makes a difference in the lives of kids and families in our community.
FREE Volunteer Training with School Gardens – Feb 17 & Feb 18, 2017
The first Volunteer Training of 2017 is coming up next month in February.
School Gardens staff members are looking forward to meeting new
friends, as well as welcoming back familiar ones.
Two identical sessions are offered:
– Friday, February 17th, 9:00 to noon –
OR
– Saturday, February 18th, 9:00 to noon –
Register by sending an email to ian@LCschoolgardens.org and
specifying which day you plan to attend.
Offering thanks for the Seeds!
During 2016, School Gardens is proud to have helped students, families, volunteers, and other community members plant more than 130,000 square feet of space in 17 different gardens!
But here’s the thing: we couldn’t have planted anything, or grown beautiful and nourishing produce with (and for) our community without seeds.
We are so thankful again this year to the farmers, growers, and companies
who provided us with the ability to grow our gardens during 2016. We count ourselves as tremendously fortunate to witness thousands of students experiencing the magic and wonder of seeds for the first time – and it is all because of the generosity of the people mentioned below.
It is with admiration for the beautiful and important work they do, and for their generous giving that we thank these folks:
Free School Garden Volunteer Training Sept 9 and Sept 10
Now Hiring! School Garden Assistant/Cowlitz AmeriCorps Member
Lower Columbia School Gardens invites kind, energetic candidates to apply to join our team as a 2016-2017 School Garden Assistant/Cowlitz AmeriCorps Member. Please pass this along to anyone interested in making the world a better place by working with kids, volunteers, plants, and food in school gardens.
The mission of Lower Columbia School Gardens (LCSG) is to build and sustain school gardens that cultivate the values of lifelong learning, sustainability, health and community in children and their families. LCSG connects students and their families with real food and hands-on learning through dynamic garden and cooking programs.Position: School Garden Assistant (two identical positions are currently open)
Location: 17 school gardens in Longview and Kelso, with central operations at Northlake Elementary, 2210 Olympia Way in Longview
Hours: Hours vary with seasons but are generally 8:30 to 5:00. This is a full time 11 month AmeriCorps position with minimum 1700 hours for the Sept 2016 – July 2017 term.
Compensation (through Cowlitz AmeriCorps Network):
Location: 17 school gardens in Longview and Kelso, with central operations at Northlake Elementary, 2210 Olympia Way in Longview
Hours: Hours vary with seasons but are generally 8:30 to 5:00. This is a full time 11 month AmeriCorps position with minimum 1700 hours for the Sept 2016 – July 2017 term.
Compensation (through Cowlitz AmeriCorps Network):
- $1,140 per month living allowance
- $5,775 education award upon completion
- Basic medical insurance (if eligible)
- Childcare Benefits (if eligible)
Position Description: Garden Assistant/Cowlitz AmeriCorps Member 2016-2017
1. Garden Assistant will lead groups of elementary and middle school students in a wide variety of garden activities. Planting seeds, turning compost, propagation, watering, fertilizing, transplanting, harvesting, preparing soil, mulching, planting fruit trees and berry bushes, saving seeds, general garden maintenance. Transport supplies to and from school site.
2. Teach garden related lessons tied to Common Core standards: examining worms and other garden creatures under microscopes, testing soil, identifying parts of plants, plant families, etc, as well as lessons on pollination, propagation, and natural history. Transport supplies to and from school site.
3. Teach hands-on healthy cooking lessons to groups of students. Garden Assistant will cook with students K-8 in outdoor kitchen (camp-type kitchen) environments as well as a few Home Ec classrooms where available. Students will learn basic cooking skills and prepare dishes using ingredients fresh from the garden. Examples: grilled vegetables, fresh salsa, roasted root vegetables, soup, lettuce wraps, salad, salad dressing, smoothies, pizza. Garden Assistant will plan activities, set up tables and equipment, set up hand-washing station, procure ingredients, give hands-on instruction, clean up, wash dishes.
4. Lead art and craft activities in the garden: drying flowers, painting garden signs, making bookmarks, grape vine wreaths, sewing, seed art. Will plan activities, set up craft station, provide specific instruction to students, clean up.
5. Garden Assistant will act as volunteer coordinator – recruiting, training, guiding, instructing, and maintaining contact through phone, email, and social media.
6. Perform general garden maintenance tasks – water, weed, mulch, haul soil & debris, spread leaves and manure, turn compost, clean and organize garden sheds and greenhouses, build trellises.
7. As a member of the Cowlitz AmeriCorps Team, participant will be required to attend trainings, participate in service projects, weekly meetings and other team activities.
1. Garden Assistant will lead groups of elementary and middle school students in a wide variety of garden activities. Planting seeds, turning compost, propagation, watering, fertilizing, transplanting, harvesting, preparing soil, mulching, planting fruit trees and berry bushes, saving seeds, general garden maintenance. Transport supplies to and from school site.
2. Teach garden related lessons tied to Common Core standards: examining worms and other garden creatures under microscopes, testing soil, identifying parts of plants, plant families, etc, as well as lessons on pollination, propagation, and natural history. Transport supplies to and from school site.
3. Teach hands-on healthy cooking lessons to groups of students. Garden Assistant will cook with students K-8 in outdoor kitchen (camp-type kitchen) environments as well as a few Home Ec classrooms where available. Students will learn basic cooking skills and prepare dishes using ingredients fresh from the garden. Examples: grilled vegetables, fresh salsa, roasted root vegetables, soup, lettuce wraps, salad, salad dressing, smoothies, pizza. Garden Assistant will plan activities, set up tables and equipment, set up hand-washing station, procure ingredients, give hands-on instruction, clean up, wash dishes.
4. Lead art and craft activities in the garden: drying flowers, painting garden signs, making bookmarks, grape vine wreaths, sewing, seed art. Will plan activities, set up craft station, provide specific instruction to students, clean up.
5. Garden Assistant will act as volunteer coordinator – recruiting, training, guiding, instructing, and maintaining contact through phone, email, and social media.
6. Perform general garden maintenance tasks – water, weed, mulch, haul soil & debris, spread leaves and manure, turn compost, clean and organize garden sheds and greenhouses, build trellises.
7. As a member of the Cowlitz AmeriCorps Team, participant will be required to attend trainings, participate in service projects, weekly meetings and other team activities.
Requirements:
- U.S. Citizen, U.S. National, or lawful permanent resident alien of the U.S.
- At least 17 years of age; there is no upper age limit.
- Able to lift 40 pounds, perform physical work for multiple hours in variety of weather conditions.
- High school diploma or equivalent.
- Pass National Sex Offender Registry check, Washington State Background check, FBI background check.
- It takes a unique person to dedicate nearly a year of their life to service. We appreciate those who bring a can-do attitude, a sense of humor, a zest for learning, and enthusiasm! Must be willing to work with a diverse team and be committed to the idea and practice of service as a way to improve yourself and the lives of others. Self-discipline and motivation are central to success.
To apply, or for more information about AmeriCorps:
- Call (360) 577-5859
- Stop by the Life Works building at 906 New York St. in Longview
Read full position description here.
Questions? Please call anytime: 360-431-6725, or reply to this email. Visit Lower Columbia School Gardens on our website and Facebook to get a better idea of the world-changing work we do.
You’re Invited to the School Garden Volunteer Tea…
You Are Cordially Invited to the School Garden Volunteer Tea!
This lovely event takes place at the Northlake School Garden on June 17th, from 1 – 4 pm.
2210 Olympia Way in Longview
Please RSVP to ian@LCschoolgardens.org or 431-6725
We hope you’ll join us to celebrate and be appreciated for all that you give to your community.
