Our vision is a garden for every school in Central Oregon.
Garden based opportunities provide a wide range of positive benefits for youth, communities and the environment. In 2016, we began taking what we’ve learned here at our Kansas Avenue Learning Garden to local schools. Our vision is a “Garden For Every School” in Central Oregon.
How We're Making an Impact
Garden Grants
Building and sustaining successful school gardens requires cash and lots of sweat equity. Thanks to community and foundation support, we have created a Garden for Every School fund that will award grants each year to support school gardens.
Garden Educator Network
Successful school gardens require well-informed educators that can learn from and support each other. The GEN comes together to provide trainings, networking events for peer-to-peer learning and resource sharing, and garden tours.
The Learning Garden
In 2010, we began to transform a vacant, weed-infested lot next to The Environmental Center into an outdoor classroom. Here, children tend to the seeds they plant, make discoveries through weekly observations and experiments, apply math and science skills, and get their hands dirty.
Thank You To Our Sponsors
Claybough Foundation, Marie Lamfrom Foundation, Gray Family Foundation, The Roundhouse Foundation, Ford Family Foundation, Central Oregon Health Council
Support school gardens today
Are you passionate about access to gardening and nutrition education for future generations? The Environmental Center is seeking like-minded individuals and businesses to sponsor the Garden for Every School program.
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We're a FoodCorps Host!
Our 2022-2023 FoodCorps Service Member, Adrienne Atkins, has focused her service work in Redmond at MA Lynch Elementary School. Her action plan includes:
- Classroom and garden lessons focusing on Kindergarteners, 4th, & 5th grade students.
- School garden maintenance and development.
- Weekly school wide fruit and veggie taste tests (also known to Lynch students as “Snacky Wacky Wednesday!”)
“The focus on healthy eating and food knowledge impact our school community in profound ways, creating an enthusiasm and buzz around healthy eating and trying fruits and vegetables prepared in new and different ways.
The Garden for Every School program really does accomplish what it proposes to do; to cultivate a school-wide culture of health.”
-Lance McMurphy, Nutrition Services Director, Redmond School District