Einstein Middle School / Edible School Yard

Description

Our garden project has been underway since August 2009. We have

o Prepared ground around school for the installment of garden bed with the help of community volunteers.
o Installed (students and staff) 23 raised beds (15 of the beds are 4 feet by 8 feet and 8 of the beds are 4 feet by 4 feet)
o Planted (students in PRIDE period) cover crops and garlic in the fall of 2009
o Oriented the school community to purpose and goals of garden project
o Taught about organic gardening and sustainability throughout the year
o Changed campus culture to include garden project as a regular part of homeroom (PRIDE) experience for all eighth graders (approximately 350 students)
o Constructed a green house and compost bin with the help of neighborhood association and Eagle Scout Troop
o Installed two rain catchment basins to teach about water conservation and sustainability
o Planted (students in PRIDE period) onion, radish, peas in the spring and harvested just before end of school year
o Currently sharing garden beds over the summer with homeless shelter members allowing them full access to harvest peas students sowed in spring and other vegetables planted before students left
o Currently growing starts in green house to be used in fall
o Working with University of Washington students to design wild life areas to be developed on