Garden Interns

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About EnrichLA

Location:

2173 Cedarhurst Dr., LOS ANGELES, CA 90027, US

Mission Statement

ENRICHLA is an Environmental Non-profit focused on adding edible school gardens to public schools. Our school gardens are inexpensive, promote community involvement, encourage respect for our delicate planet, act as outdoor classrooms, cheer up school campuses, help students build a good work ethic, and promote thoughtful and healthy eating habits.

With gardens, the classroom is given local focus, tangible results, and involvement in inquiry-based education that can take place at each child’s own speed.

Description

EnrichLA follows the garden process from start to finish. First, we either contact or are contacted by a representative at the school to discuss the possibility of building a garden on their school grounds. While our focus is on edible gardens, we have also built reading and learning gardens. Next, we go through the process of getting permits, doing soil tests, removing asphalt, and garnering funds and community support. We host a garden build day, where up to 100+ volunteers join us in transforming these vacant dirt lots into lush gardens. In a matter of hours, you see a tangible transformation that leaves you feeling proud (and exhausted!).
These gardens are then maintained by EnrichLA "Garden Stewards" who host our "Home and Garden Economics" classes weekly. In these classes, students learn about nutrition, environmental stewardship and even science, math and art; all in a HANDS ON way that is easier for students to grasp and retain.
Students plant seedlings, harvest these foods, and then cook them in their outdoor kitchens. This connection between the source of their food and the final, delicious outcome is essential in encouraging kids to adopt a healthy lifestyle.