Our first-ever D.C. School Garden Week took place from Oct. 15-20, 2007.  Here is a recap of our events:

EVENTS

  • How Can I Start a School Garden
    Tuesday, October 16 at Burroughs ES, 1820 Monroe St, NE

    Five panelists spoke to an intimate audience about their experiences working with school gardens in Washington.  There was discussion of successes and challenges, teaching techniques, funding opportunities, and participants had the opportunity to network with others. 
    Panelists include:
    • Gilda Allen, Environmental Specialist, District Department of the Environment
    • Cheryl Corson, Landscape Architect, Cheryl Corson Design
    • Marti Goldstone, Teacher, Horace Mann Elementary School
    • Michael Kaspar, Director of Science, DC Public Schools
    • Judy Tiger, former Executive Director, Garden Resources of Washington
  • Event: A Walk Among Trees
    Thursday, October 18 at Murch Elementary School, 4810 36th St, NW

    Local non-profit Casey Trees hosted a Tree Walk at Murch Elementary School, where the organization has partnered with the school's Home and School Association to plant over 100 trees. Participants practiced their tree identification skills and saw excellent examples of "right tree, right place."
  • School Garden Activities and Workdays

    These schools and organizations reported their activities and workdays during DC School Garden Week:
    • Amidon ES: The PreK class and 5th grade class worked with Project Learning Tree to investigate their gardens using the "Adopt a Tree" and "The Closer You Look" activities from the Project Learning Tree curriculum guide.
    • Anacostia SHS: As part of a Youth Summit, approximately 100 students and 6 teachers planted a memorial garden with native plants and learned about the Chesapeake Bay watershed. This event was organized by the District Department of the Environment, Student Conservation Association, Living Classrooms of the National Capital Region, and the Anacostia Watershed Society, as part of a NOAA Bay-Watershed Education and Training grant.
    • Bancroft ES: In partnership with City Year-DC, 30 students and 34 volunteers planted ~250 bulbs donated by the UDC Cooperative Extension Service.
    • Burroughs ES: The 1st grade class and 3rd grade class worked with Project Learning Tree to investigate their gardens using the "Schoolyard Safari" and "The Closer You Look" activities from the Project Learning Tree curriculum guide.
    • Cardozo SHS: In partnership with the Monarch Effect Foundation and 21 volunteers from City Year-DC, Cardozo expanded its Peace Garden to include a new butterfly habitat garden.
    • Emery ES: In partnership with City Year-DC, 10 volunteers helped Emery ES with garden planting and maintenance.
    • McKinsey and Company: As part of a volunteer day that coincided with DC School Garden Week (but was organized separately), 80 adults worked at 4 elementary schools (Rudolph, Walker-Jones, Gibbs, and Noyes) to plant evergreen bushes, shrubs, flowers, and bulbs.
  • DC School Gardens Tours
    Saturday, October 20

    We organized two different tours for people to visit some of the exemplary and diverse greening projects at various DC schools. At the sites, participants learned how these outdoor spaces are easily be integrated into the teaching curriculum and received ideas for how to start school projects.
    • Bike Hop: The Women's Garden Cycles Project led approximately 20 people on a 10-mile bike tour of vegetable and herb gardens at four Northwest DC schools: Bancroft ES, DC Bilingual Public Charter School , Children's Studio School, and Horace Mann ES.
    • Schoolyards Bus Tour: On this 4th annual tour, particpants visited Watkins ES, Sharpe Health School, Lowell School, LaSalle ES, and Cesar Chavez Public Charter School for Public Policy, Parkside Campus.

    PRESS

  • Click here to read the DC School Garden Week named one of the top 9 Home and Garden events for fall
  • Click here to read an article about School Garden Week in the September issue of the Hill Rag.
  • Click here to read an article from the Washington Examiner (Real Estate section - October 12 2007 edition - page 11). Plus: We made another one of their top Home & Gardens Events --read it here!
  • Click here for a brief write-up from NBC4
  • Click here for the listing on 94.7 The Globe's Web site
  • NEW! Click here for an article from the Northwest Current summarizing School Garden Week events!!
  • Click here to read the School Garden Week Press Release
  • Click here for the press release from the District Department of the Environment website.
  • Click here for Project Learning Tree's Press Release



PLANNING MATERIAL

Click here for quick ideas to Get Out and Garden!
NEW!  Click here for a list of garden curricula on the Web compiled by the National Environmental Education Foundation. Click here to download a document list.

PARTNERS IN D.C. SCHOOL GARDEN WEEK

As of October 18, 2007

Organizations:

21st Century School Fund
Anacostia Watershed Society
Browne Junior High School
Cardozo Senior High School
Casey Trees
Children’s Studio School
City Blossoms Garden
City Year - Washington, DC
DC Urban Gardeners
District Department of the Environment, Watershed Protection Division
Environmental Concern
Garfield Elementary School
Hart Middle School
Horace Mann Elementary School
LaSalle Elementary School
Living Classrooms of the National Capital Region
Murch Elementary School
National Environmental Education Foundation
Project Learning Tree
St. Coletta School of Greater Washington
Student Conservation Association
The Monarch Effect Foundation
UDC Cooperative Extension Service
Washington Gardener magazine
Washington Youth Garden
Women’s Garden Cycles

Individuals:

Susan Harris, garden writer
Kathy Jentz, editor of Washington Gardener magazine
Judy Tiger, former executive director of Garden Resources of Washington (GROW)

For more information, email Grace Manubay, D.C. Schoolyard Greening Committee Chair, or call 202-236-5856.