Hello San Diego Garden Educators,

Aaaaaand they’re off!! It’s the 2009-2010 school year – destined to be a great one, full of new projects, new faces, and exciting collaborations. It’s still hot out there but you can begin cool season seed starting projects now with your students. Try a full life cycle study of lettuce throughout the school year. Plant it now and you can harvest lettuce for a fall salad, then let it bolt and set seed, and then plant the seeds for a new crop in spring!

Would you like to volunteer 1 to 10 hours a week to help sustain school gardens throughout San Diego County? If so, please contact Diana Bergman at Diana.bergman@rcdsandiego.org or call (619)562-0096 x106 for more information. Volunteers are needed to help at the SDAITC Teacher’s Resource Fair on Oct. 29, 2009 at Quail Botanical Gardens during California School Garden Week. See below for details.



Upcoming Events:

Time For Lunch! National Day of Action, Slow Food USA
Mon., September 7 – Locations throughout San Diego County

Slow Food USA is organizing a National Day of Action to Get Real Food into Schools, called Time For Lunch! Potluck lunches called Eat Ins will be taking place in San Diego County and throughout the country this Labor Day. Eat-Ins bring people together to share a meal and show their support for a cause like getting real food into schools. To learn more, visit: http://www.slowfoodusa.org/index.php/campaign/time_for_lunch/

Local Eat-Ins happening on Monday, September 7
* SAN DIEGO: Urban San Diego Slow Food Potluck Picnic at World Beat Center in Balboa Park, 11 am to 2 pm Email to RSVP: candicew@gmail.com
* DEL MAR: San Dieguito Park (Area 3) Noon to 4pm, Email to RSVP: chilirad@cox.net
* NATIONAL CITY: Olivewood Gardens, 2505 N Ave., Noon to 3PM (Happening in Conjunction with Olivewood Gardens Groundbreaking) Email to RSVP: diana.bergman@rcdsandiego.org

…and one on Friday September 4!
* San Diego Art Institute, 7650 Mission Valley Road, San Diego, California 92108. Email to RSVP: alexis_nichols@yahoo.com



Free Composting Class presented by Gardeners 4 Peace
Sat., September 5, 1pm to 2:30pm – San Diego

At the Friend’s Center Peace Garden (3850 Westgate Place, SD 92105). Bring yourself and all your friends to this class taught by Connie Beck. She has been an organic gardening instructor and landscape designer for the past 18 years. This class is completely free and open to everyone in San Diego County. For more information, write to: gardeners4peace@hotmail.com



Fruit of the Soul Fundraiser for Music, Art, and Sustainable Education in San Diego
Sat. September 19, starts at 6:00 PM – San Diego

Taking place at Specialty Produce Warehouse, 1929 Hancock St. Live music, tastes of over 30 restaurants, silent auction, art haul! All proceeds go to Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center, A Reason the Survive (ARTS) Program, and the Monarch School. Purchase tickets at www.fruitofthesoul.org. Want to get in for free? Then volunteer to help before, during, or after the event! For more info email volunteer@fruitofthesoul.org.



EnviroFest, Presented by San Diego Girls Alliance
Sat., September 19, 9:00AM- 2:00PM – San Diego

EnviroFest at Chollas Lake Park (6350 College Grove Drive) is a family-friendly community celebration featuring hands-on environmental education and arts activities for children. The event will stimulate learning, public participation and creativity while benefiting residents, park users and surrounding businesses. Go to www.girlsalliance.org for more information.
* Hands-on environmental science activities
* Preservation, conservation and recycling information
* Gardening and Composting
* Highlights from Area Nonprofits
* Health and Fitness Activities and Information
* Art, Food, Music and entertainment



Bates Nut Farm “Farm Education Day”
Sat. Sept. 26 - Valley Center

Visit from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM for Farm Education Day and opening day of the pumpkin patch. Look for the San Diego Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation booth! Go to the website for address and directions.



Save the date! - SDAITC Teacher’s Resource Fair
Thursday October 29, 4 to 6PM - Encinitas



California School Garden Week is Oct. 24 to 31st! The San Diego Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation is organizing a Teacher’s Resource Fair at Quail Botanical Gardens in Encinitas. Come enjoy tastes of locally produced fruits, vegetables, and other foods. Learn about the bounty of San Diego Agriculture, and peruse local resources for garden-based learning (agriculture, nutrition, native plants, gardening skills, etc.), all in one festive happy-hour-length event! More information to follow soon.


San Diego Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation (SDAITC) was founded in 1996 and aims to increase awareness, understanding, and appreciation of agriculture among San Diego County’s educators and students. Currently, SDAITC’s most visible program is its annual School Garden Grant program for San Diego County schools.



Fresh Fruits and Vegetables: A Centerpiece for a Healthy School Environment
November 30 & December 1, 2009 - San Diego, CA

This FREE, two-day training provides tools to support an increase of fresh fruits and vegetables on school campuses through interactive and skill-building activities.

Topics include nutrition education promoting fruit and vegetable consumption, including garden-enhanced nutrition education, greening school campuses, connecting schools with local farms, and safe culinary skills from garden to classroom. Space if filling fast, so register now.



2009 California Agriculture in the Classroom Conference October 23-24, 2009 - Rohnert Park (Sonoma County), CA

Tours, networking, exhibits, workshops all related to California Agriculture, and how to bring this richness to the classroom. Pull back the curtain to discover why California is the #1 state in the nation for the production of “specialty crops” – fresh fruit, vegetables, nuts, nursery and greenhouse products. For more information visit www.cfaitc.org



Funding Resources:

2010 Heinz Wholesome Memories Intergenerational Garden Award
Deadline: January 10, 2010

This award is designed to foster family-focused garden efforts in communities across the country. The award is open to any adult in the U.S. who wishes to garden with preschool to high school-aged family member(s) and feels that gardening is a great way to build lasting memories. No prior gardening experience necessary. The garden can be established and grown in any suitable outdoor setting such as home, rooftop, deck, school yard, community garden, church garden, etc. Winners will receive a package of tools, seeds, and other supplies worth $500. Click here for more info.



Love Your Veggies Grant
Deadline: Nov. 6, 2009

The makers of Hidden Valley® Salad Dressings are excited to announce the 2009-10 Love Your Veggies™ grant program , now in its fourth consecutive year. This year, Hidden Valley will award $10,000 grants to 10 elementary schools in the United States. With support from its partner the School Nutrition Foundation (SNF), the grant program will once again seek to help schools execute innovative programs that will increase the access to, and consumption of, fresh fruits and vegetables in the lunchroom. Interested schools may apply for a grant beginning Aug. 17 through Nov. 6, 2009.


More grants that were spotlighted in previous months’ newsletter:

Do Something! Grants for Inspired Young People Deadline for Applications: Rolling http://www.dosomething.org/sharesomething/fund-your-project


Nickelodeon's Big Green Grants
Deadline for Applications: Rolling
Learn more


National Gardening Association (NGA) 2009 Hooked on Hydroponics Grants
Deadline: September 18, 2009
http://www.kidsgardening.com/grants/HOH.asp

NGA Announces 2009 Healthy Sprouts Awards Program
Deadline: October 17, 2009
http://www.kidsgardening.com/healthysprouts.asp

NGA Announces Continuation of Youth Garden Grants Program
Deadline: November 2, 2009
http://www.kidsgardening.com/ygg.asp


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.