The Dolores Huerta Gardens at César E. Chávez Elementary, Eugene, Oregon by Tana Shepard

César E. Chávez Elementary

• K-5 public elementary school, high poverty with 85% free and reduced meals

• Diverse population with nearly 50% white, 50% other ethnic backgrounds, primarily latino

• 11th year in the building, a merge of Eugene’s old Ida Patterson and Westmoreland schools, built on the Patterson site in 2004.

• Gardens were not originally included in plans

• Added food and native species to the building plan

• All because of a suggestion and a garden loving administrator

• Spring of 2005 we planted the vegetable and native gardens

Food Garden Location

• Located at the rear of the building in a 3 sided courtyard

• 6 classrooms and our media center look out onto the courtyard

• 2 original beds, approximately15’ x 30’, with cement paths

• 9 additional 3’ x 5’ raised beds in 2010 with the help of United Way and the School Garden Project, grants

• Drip line water system throughout from 2 separate EWEB grants

See how our garden grows…

Native Garden Location

• Native garden approximately 500 square feet

• 3 classrooms look out onto it

• Garden shed, Earth tub, composting holding bins

• Both garden areas are visible from the bike path and street behind

Garden Use

• During the school day and as part of our after school program

• STEM related lessons

• 5th graders are the stewards of the garden, integrating it into all our learning

School wide use:

• Classes K-5 study plants and insects conduct scientific inquiry, meet with our cross-age buddies, create art, read, write, special events, special lunches

• Students with needs/behavior issues thrive in the garden

• Heart of our school

My food makes my food?!?

Garden Use in Action

Team work!

Fresh air and a good book

Scavenger Hunt with buddies

Partners

• School Garden Project

• Farm to School Program

• Tim Whitley/Lisa Livelybrook from district 4j

• Volunteers including the Active 20/30 club

• Grant providers over the years: EWEB, EEA, Selco, Donors Choose, community members

School Garden Project helps make this doable for a classroom teacher…

Hands-on, minds on, working together for the greater good…that’s life long learning.

Things that excite me… even after all these years

• Nearly the oldest functioning school garden in Eugene, according to facilities

• Our garden and green commitment continues to open kids’ minds and change their lives

• It helps our students realize how awesome eating fresh food is

• Our continued partnership with SGP and Farm to School

• Our annual Chavez Day of Giving

Struggles…there are always struggles

• Funding

• Consistent family involvement

• Red Hen story with staff

• Time

• The native garden

• Conflict of rationalizing the educational benefit when test scores are low

Nuggets of Advice

• Keep facilities and your custodian happy...

• Administrator support

• Seek out GRANTS to keep up with tools, expansions, upkeep, drip systems!!!

• Save grants in word to copy and paste info when needed

• Make STEM connections to connect with standards

• Work with community partners any time you can

Thank you …

http://staff.4j.lane.edu/~shepard_t/B-4/welcome.html