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  Nutrition
Education
School Gardens
The
Network for a Healthy California—LAUSD supports school gardening because we believe it is a powerful tool for creating lifelong change in children’s eating habits. We've seen children who balk at eating vegetables eat them with great relish when they grow and nurture them on their own.
When they grow it, they eat it.
School gardening is full of wonder, captivating children by allowing them to experiment with seeds, soil and water. It promotes a student's curiosity because each day the garden evolves,
there is something new to discover and ponder. This natural inquisitiveness sets a perfect stage for learning. In a fruit and vegetable garden, teachers can weave nutrition education with science, mathematics, language, art, social studies and even music. As the seeds grow, so do the children.
School community members and families often become involved in the garden too, because tending the soil and nurturing plants crosses over language barriers and creates a common interest. The harvests provide ample opportunity for festivities that emphasize fresh fruits and vegetables and how to prepare them.
 Our school gardening coordinator, teacher advisors and nutrition specialists support gardening with workshops, educational materials and technical advice. In addition, strong community partnerships supply soil, seeds, plants, tools and needed materials.
Adults garden because they love the whole process. Children are no different. In LAUSD, nutrition education gardens promote achievement, physical activity and healthy eating, and we support them wholeheartedly.
For more information on nutrition education using school gardens in LAUSD, contact Scott Miller at (818) 609-2550.
Our Partners and Supporters
School gardening is supported in LAUSD through the generosity of our partners and supporters who supply materials, supplies, curricula, patience, sweat and a passion for sharing the joy of nutrition education gardening with every school community.
For a list of our partners and gardening resources, click here.
Last updated 9/2008
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