Growing Together - Spring/Summer 2009

This spring, DCSG worked on a pilot project with Bancroft ES and Thurgood Marshall Academy PCS to grow vegetable seedlings in the classroom and to sell at the Mount Pleasant Farmer's Market. Students enrolled in summer school have also started to sell the produce. Students working with City Blossoms have sold soaps enhanced with herbs that they have grown, too. Visit the Mt. Pleasant Farmer's Market on July 25, August 8, and August 22 and support our students! For more information, please contact Lee Cain.

Get Out and Garden!: Cultivating Readers through Gardening - March/April 2009

This workshop focused on gardening basics, working with students outdoors, and learning how to use reading engagement strategies with garden-based lessons, and more! Twenty-five teachers participated in sessions at Bancroft ES and the Washington Youth Garden. Partners included the Alice Ferguson Foundation, Anacostia Watershed Society, District Department of the Environment - Watershed Protection Division, DC Public Library (Children's Division, MLK Library), Washington Youth Garden, and teachers/community members from Bancroft ES.

DC School Garden Week:
Oct 6-11, 2008

We are starting to plan for our 2nd annual celebration of DC school gardens. Click here for more information.

Get Out and Garden!: Creating Edible Schoolyards - April 2008

This year's workshop focused on how to grow vegetables and herbs at your school and make curricular connections with the garden. Eighteen teachers from 15 schools participated in sessions at Watkins ES and at the Washington Youth Garden, we discussed nutrition, cooking with students in the classroom, and planting techniques, soil preparation, and much more. Click here and here to read The Slow Cook blog entries describing the event. Partners included: the

Partners included: Washington Youth Garden, Cultivating Health, District Department of the Environment - Watershed Protection Division, Judy Tiger (formerly of Garden Resources of Washington, parents/teachers/community members from Children's Studio School, Jefferson JHS, Horace Mann ES, and Watkins ES.

D.C. School Garden Week:
Oct. 15-20, 2007

During this first-ever event, our goal is to increase awareness of school gardens and other greening efforts at D.C. schools and to highlight the work that environmental education organizations and D.C. schools have done, and will continue to do to improve students’ access to outdoor learning and recreational areas.  Click here for more information.

Get Out and Garden!: Taking Advantage of Your Outdoor Classroom - April 2007
In April, DCSG held a workshop at the US Botanic Garden and the Washington Youth Garden. Over 20 teachers learned about planning their outdoor spaces to function as learning places, how to plant seeds, compost, and maintain school gardens.  Teachers received plants, curriculum materials, and hands-on practice.  You can also read about the workshop on the DC Urban Gardener's Website.

3rd Annual DC Schoolyards Tour
On October 21, 2006 DCSG held our 3rd Annual DC Schoolyards Tour. This year, we visited Seaton Elementary School, Children’s Studio School, Cardozo Senior High School, Stanton Elementary School, and Leckie Elementary School.  A big thanks to the teachers, students, and volunteers who took the time to show their site and share numerous tips and activities.

The Importance of Plants - Integrating Your Schoolyard Into Your Curriculum
In Spring 2006, DCSG held a workshop in early May at Bancroft Elementary School. The workshop was attended by over 20 teachers and parents and covered topics including: local resources and funding for schoolyard projects; plant and tree ID; plant uses and needs; herbs; and composting.

2nd Annual DC Schoolyards Tour
On October 15, 2005 the DCSG held our 2nd Annual DC Schoolyards Tour. The tour included visits to 5 local schoolyards that are being used as outdoor classrooms: Horace Mann Elemetary School, Stoddert Elementary School, Backus Middle School, Cardozo Senior High School and Sharpe Health School. There were over 30 participants who took part in the tour: a mix of teachers, principals, landscape architects, non-profit representatives, and concerned individuals. Click here to read an article from the Washington Examiner.

Schoolyard Greening 101
The DCSG held a two-part teacher training workshop, Schoolyard Greening 101, on May 5th and May 7th, 2005 at Seaton Elementary School. The workshop was open to DCPS staff as well as parents and community members interested in greening school grounds in the District. The workshop served as an introduction to schoolyard greening projects and outdoor learning and provided participants with ideas, activities and resources for working on their school grounds. Participants were involved in several hands-on, outdoor activities including a mapping activity, site assessment, tree inventory, soil lesson, and mulching activity.

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