GROWING INDY'S SCHOOL GARDENS

School Gardens:  From The Fringes to The Mainstream in Indy

Wouldn’t it be amazing if every elementary school child knew how to garden? They would learn how plants grow and that fruits and vegetables need to be nurtured and cared for and that they don't just come in a carton or a crinkly plastic bag. 

Many studies have found that kids are more likely to eat fruits and vegetables if they help grow them. My experience completely supports this and I am very passionate about sharing my love and knowledge of gardening and healthy food with school-aged children in the Indianapolis area.

I'm Susan DeVine, an Indianapolis Master Gardner who works as a Kindergarten Instructional Assistant and helps coordinate nine months of gardening with kids at Nora Elementary School in Indianapolis.  Nora has an after school Garden Club as well as a Summer Enrichment Program for Washington Township Schools, called Growing Gardeners.   25-30 children participate in the Garden Club throughout the school year and 75 Growing Gardeners are expected to take part in the summer program this year.    

But the time has come for me to take these programs to the ‘next level'.  My goal is to network with like-minded school gardening professionals nationally, expand my skills, and ultimately establish gardening programs to benefit many more children throughout the local school system.

In order to become a ‘Certified Garden Coordinator’ I must travel to Portland, Oregon.  During this unique, one-of-a-kind, intense program I'll attend numerous classes which cover:

·      Community organizing and organizing school garden committees

·      Developing school garden lesson plans

·      Fundraising and resource development

·      Volunteer management

·      Teaching youth effectively / class management

·      Garden-based activities

·      Garden to cafeteria

·      Garden infrastructure

·      Share learning with peers and the community

·      Program evaluation

·      Developing policies on school garden installation and garden to cafeteria guidelines

The tuition of the classes in Portland, OR ($450), airfare from Indianapolis ($550- **UPDATE April 18. 2016**
I have secured airfare thanks to a donation of frequent flier miles), and seven days/nights of modest lodging **UPDATE MAY 16, 2016** Lodging CONFIRMED ($792) with donated funds ($590). I paid the additional $202 after doing some freelance work recently.  Remaining funds needed for tuition ($450), public transportation ($60) and meals ($210)    
No contribution is too small.  I am a passionate believer that teaching children the techniques and benefits of organic gardening are skills that will remain with them their entire lives.   Obtaining this certification is a huge next step to achieving this worthwhile dream and bringing gardening out of the fringes and into the mainstream for countless Indianapolis school children.
Thank you for your support!