Gardner's garden is the school garden BUG established at Gardner Academy (San Jose Unified School District). Our primary goal is to develop a sustainable model for school gardens for under-resourced schools in marginalized communities. BUG is working with teachers, administrators and parents to design, build, and maintain the garden and has an ongoing garden based education program at Gardner that works with classes for eight week sessions and collaborates with La Estrella after school program to provide garden activities one afternoon a week.
School Garden
Working with students, teachers, parents and volunteers, BUG has built and maintains a garden for Gardner Academy. Periodic workdays are held on weekends and a core group of parents, teachers and community members has been established to steward the garden.
Garden Education
- BUG provides 8 week sessions for grades 1-5 Classes meet once a week and take place in the classroom and the garden. BUG has adopted and created garden and nutrition based lessons and activities based on California State Content Standards.
- BUG collaborates one afternoon a week with the La Estrella after school program to provide garden and nutrition-based enrichment programs.
- BUG's Garden Lunch Club is a self-selected group of students that has lunch with the BUG School Garden Program Coordinator once a week in the garden.
Community Building
The BUG Garden Coordinator has worked hard to connect with school and community organizations, attending meetings and recruiting community participation to help with the building and ongoing stewardship of the school and community garden. BUG organizes regular family garden workdays and special garden events to bring people together and promote environmental literacy. Through this effort, BUG has established El Jardin de Gardner Core Group which consists of parents, teachers, and community members and works together to steward the garden, maintaining it over the summer when school is out.
School Garden and Nutrition Program Network
The BUG School Garden Coordinator serves as a regional resources for school garden programs by organizing garden education resources shares, school garden field trips, and a Wellness Committee for San Jose Unified School District.
