Hello San Diego Garden Educators!

It's getting hot out there - tomatoes and corn are loving it. Here they come! Are you sick of zucchini yet??

One of the reasons we want everyone to know how to grow their own food is to increase food security for all Californians - meaning access to and availability of nutritious food. For children who typically receive free or reduced priced lunch at schools, summer time poses a problem in that department. Consequently, the USDA sponsors the Seamless Summer meal program. This website provides a list of all summer meal sites statewide where children ages 2-18 may receive free nutritious meals during school vacation and off-track periods. Alternatively, make a phone call to 211 and they can pinpoint meal centers nearby. There's no paperwork or sign-ups. Kids just show up (must eat their meals onsite) and enjoy a nutritious meal.


*********************************************************************
Informational Resources:

"(Almost*) Free Summer Camp for Teachers"
EAT Foundation offers agriculture in the classroom workshops to California teachers. "Be a farmer for 72 hours" - an experience you will never forget. No fancy classrooms here, you will be out on the farm to learn the ins and outs about family farming, gardening, nutrition and how math, English, history and science are right in your backyard. Space still available for the July classes (dates online), in Hanford, CA. Lodging provided on a first come, first serve basis. Resources and lessons are plentiful! View flyer and sign up online at www.eatfdn.org. Contact Kelly Deming with questions at (559) 707-8823 or kellyg@eatfnd.org
* $50 plus your own transportation costs.


Does your garden include a few citrus trees?
Summer is the best time to prune citrus plants because they are actively growing. When pruning, you should always inspect your plants for citrus greening disease. This deadly bacterial plant disease is spread by a disease-infected insect, the Asian citrus psyllid, and has destroyed millions of acres of citrus plants around the world. Since there is no cure, we're counting on gardeners like you to help stop the spread of citrus greening disease. For more information from the USDA on citrus greening disease including photos of psyllids and infected plants, visit www.saveourcitrus.org . If you detect the insect or an infected plant, report it. Get reporting information for your state.


Green Reading Lists
On rainy days this summer, take some time to catch up on your green reading. EEWeek.org features Green Reading Lists for educators and students. The Green Reading for Students list features grade-appropriate titles to inspire students of all ages to develop a relationship with the natural world. The titles provided on the Green Reading for Educators list will help you to think about new ways to bring environmental learning to your students.


Nature Rocks , a new program of the Children & Nature Network and ecoAmerica , was developed in order to inspire and empower families to play and explore in nature. The Web site features tools and resources for parents and educators to get kids outdoors.


DiscoverTheForest.org , a new web campaign presented by the Ad Council and the U.S. Forest Service, encourages young people to "get out and explore" in our nation's forests and parks. Tools for parents and educators are provided with suggestions for where to go, what to do and why.


2009 California AITC Conference
Sonoma County's fertile valley and its surrounding environs have made this area a productive and progressive agricultural hotspot. Join the California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom (CFAITC) on Oct. 23-24 for:
* Garden and nutrition-based lesson plan ideas
* Hands-on gardening activities
* Exciting field trips
* Tremendous networking opportunities

For more information, and to register, visit www.cfaitc.org/conference


WE Garden - Event Summary and Lesson Plans This past spring, CFAITC worked with First Lady Maria Shriver and staff to plan and install an 800 square foot edible garden in Sacramento's Capitol Park. Ten garden-related lesson plans aligned to content standards were developed for grades 1-3 and 4-6. The lessons are available to download from www.cfaitc.org/wegarden . For more information about Maria Shriver's work with school gardens, click here .


Family Insect Festival at Quail Botanical Gardens July 11-12 in Encinitas Bug Collecting, hands-on insect arts and crafts, bug tastings, and educational interactive booths. $12 Call (760) 436-3036 or visit www.qbgardens.org


Chula Vista Lemon Festival
August 9 in Chula Vista
The event celebrates the heritage of Chula Vista as the city was once self-proclaimed "Lemon Capital of the World" in the 1920's. Contests, food, entertainment, car show, art, vendors, rides, kids' area ...and lemons are theoretically squeezed in there somewhere, which is why this is included in our newsletter.... Third Avenue between E and G streets.
www.thirdavenuevillage.com


*********************************************************************
Student Contests:

Funky Nests in Funky Places - Entry deadline July 31, 2009. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology encourages people of all ages to celebrate spring by submitting photos, artwork or stories about Funky Nests in Funky Places. The first 50 entries will receive a copy of the "Doves and pigeons of North America" poster, and selected entries will be posted on the Celebrate Urban Birds Web site. Learn more


2009 NACD Poster Contest - DIG IT! The Secrets of Soil - Local entry deadline September 1, 2009 The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD), in collaboration with their state and local counterparts, announces its annual student poster contest theme - "Dig It! The Secrets of Soil." Any media may be used to create a flat or two-dimensional effect on poster paper sized between 8.5x11 and 22x28. The 2009 Stewardship title "DIG IT! The Secrets of Soil" must be on the poster. You must FIRST submit to the local level contest, then two winners from greater San Diego County will advance to the state level, and state winners will be submitted to the NACD contest.

For rules, entry form, and submission requirements (please read carefully!), go to the website of the California Association of Resource Conservation District . For examples from previous year's contests, click here . To submit to the local contest, call Diana Bergman at (619) 562-0096.


Calling All Kids- Video Contest! - Tell us why you are a Victory Grower - Entry deadline Sept. 1, 2009. Food Independence Day is asking kids to create a video describing why they are a Victory Grower and how that affects who they want to be and what they want to do in the future. For more info visit: http://foodindependenceday.org/post/116892037/telavision


Year of Science Zine-A-Thon Contest - Entry deadline November 1, 2009 The Year of Science challenges students and adults to design a mini-magaZine on one of the twelve Year of Science themes. A template, examples, and tips are provided on the Web site. Zines are judged by a panel of scientists, artists and students who will award up to 36 prizes. Learn more


Imagine this... Story Writing Contest - Entry deadline Nov. 1, 2009 Plan to enter your student's creative stories in the Imagine this... contest in the new school year. The Story Writing Contest meets California Academic Content Standards 1.0 writing strategies and 2.0 writing applications. Submit up to five stories per classroom. Entries are now being accepted. Entry form, and regional submission addresses available for download from the Web site, www.cfaitc.org/imaginethis .


*********************************************************************
Funding Resources

National Gardening Association (NGA) Invites Applications for 2009 Hooked on Hydroponics Education Grants
Deadline: September 18, 2009
The program will provide thirty-six schools with equipment and learning materials for hydroponics projects that involve at least 15 children between the ages of 6 and 18 during the 2010 school year. For more info: http://www.kidsgardening.com/grants/HOH.asp


NGA Announces 2009 Healthy Sprouts Awards Program
Deadline: October 17, 2009
The awards support school and youth garden programs that teach about nutrition and hunger issues. For more info: http://www.kidsgardening.com/healthysprouts.asp


NGA Announces Continuation of Youth Garden Grants Program
Deadline: November 2, 2009
NGA annually awards Youth Garden Grants to schools and community organizations with child-centered garden programs across the United States. 100 grants, paid as gift cards to Home Dept and Gardening with Kids Catalog, are available. For more info: http://www.kidsgardening.com/ygg.asp


If you have received this email as a forward and would like to sign up to receive these monthly announcements directly, or if you would like to remove your email address, please email diana.bergman@rcdsandiego.org. The San Diego Regional School Garden Resource Center is a program of the Resource Conservation District of Greater San Diego County in partnership with the California Department of Education.