Transcript to see a School Gardens Proposal created by me

SAXONVILLE
GARDENS
PROPOSAL
Concepts by:
Brendan Ryan
Foodservice Director- Framingham School District
QUICK HISTORY OF SAXONVILLE

“…Saxonville when the textile
industry was established here, one
of the early companies being
named the ‘Saxon Factory
Company’....”
-framingham.com

The Saxonville Falls and Dam
(1865)
 The water power at these falls has
been used to drive mill wheels since
1659 when John Stone built his grist
mill here.
 The current dam dates back to 1865.
f-ramingham.com
WHY “SAXONVILLE”?
Saxonville named after
Saxon land development
company
 This area was claimed as
wilderness, booming textile
industry, and land
development business

 With
natural
resources historic as a
success, why not use
them?
WHY NOW?
MASSACHUSETTS OBESITY
Between 25-30 % of the state’s
10-17 year olds are overweight or
obese.
 Obese children face serious health
consequences including:






Increased risk of developing
diabetes
Asthma
Heart disease
Depression
Low self esteem
WHITE HOUSE EFFORTS: TEACH KIDS, MAKE CHANGES
OTHER EXISTING EFFORTS


Farm2School/ Farm to fork
 Helps school systems co-operate
with local farms and gardens to
supply fresh and local foods
 Minimizes business to large
industrial factories/businesses
 Kids know that their lunch is
grown, not formulated
“Locally Grown Food Served Here”
 State pushes food be purchased
local and in season
 Minimize out-of-season purchasing!
 “Fresh is more”
THE SAXONVILLE GARDENS



Framingham High School is
equipped with an approximate 2
acre unused interior courtyard
void of any maintained
vegetation such as trees shrubs,
bushes, or existing garden(s)
Use of this location would be
ideal to maximize the visual
impact of the student body and
limit vandalism (enclosed area)
Flourishing Saxonville Gardens
will inspire and re-invent the
prospering community that first
settled here
LAND HO!
F.H.S.
Proposed
garden
space
Proposed area for
apple and pear trees
SAXONVILLE GARDEN LAYOUT
275 Feet
Gladiolas
Spinach
&
Lettuce
Gladiolas Gladiolas
Gladiolas
Broccoli Cauliflower Onions
8
1
F
e
e
t
Eggplant
Romaine
Chopped
Tomato
String
beans
Red
Pepper
Broccoli Cauliflower Onions
Tomato
Cucumbers Green
Pepper
Gladiola
s
Gladiola
s
Pea
Pods
Boston
lettuce
Red
Romaine
Lettuce
Gladiola
s
Sprinkler head / Water Line
Rinse
statio
n
Tool Shed
Door entrance
Zuch
&
Squash
Sweet
Potato
Gladiolas
Saxonville Gardens Layout 2
5 ft
Oregano
Sunflowers
Thyme
Sage
Sunflowers
Basil
D
o
o
r
Dalias
5 ft
Iris
Parsley
Rosemary
Daffodils
Walkway
3 ft
5 ft
Iris
Basil
Lemon Thyme
-Tulips-
Walkway
Dalias
Sea
Grass
Oregano
-Tulips-
Parsley
Daffodills
D
o
o
r
MAIN OBJECTIVE



Create a completely sustainable and organic environment
so students can be involved, understand agriculture and
“real” food
Kids will understand business and value of food as they
make profit in selling at farmers markets
A win-win situation:
Growth of fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, and
flowers puts excellent use of the land
Kids will create and continue a legacy of planting
and maintaining an organic farm
DISTRICT INVOLVEMENT:
 Elementary,
middle, and high schools
involved
 Seedling development will be based on
curriculum in correct applicable grade level
i.e.: grade 2 learns parts of a flower, they
spread flower seeds
 Each grade from elementary-middle school
will focus on an individual food/plant
 High School students will participate in
planting, maintaining, harvesting, and
selling/using foods
HERE’S ONE MORE REASON
ECONOMIC RECESSION: GARDENING TO CREATE RICHES
School garden will bring funds
to support clubs
 No costs:
Crops for the kids, by the kids
 Kids will run farmers market;
fresh foods, fast cash
 Crops supply a “Harvest Day”
@ schools; fresh free food!

USDA ANSWERS OUR QUESTIONS



Q: Can the school food service use funds from the nonprofit
school food service account to purchase seeds for a school
garden?
 A: Yes, with the understanding that the garden is used
within the context of the program, i.e. selling the food or
providing food in the classroom as part of an educational
lesson.
Q: Can the school food service use funds from the nonprofit
school food service account to purchase items for the
school garden such as fertilizer, watering cans, rakes, etc.?
 A: Yes, as long as the items are used for the purpose of
starting and maintaining the garden.
Q: Can a school sell food grown in their school garden that
was funded using the nonprofit school food service
account?
 A: Yes, as long as the revenue from the sale of the food
accrues back to the nonprofit school food service account.
Schools can serve the produce as part of a reimbursable
meal or sell it a la carte, to parents, to PTA members, at a
roadside stand, etc.
STARTING A SCHOOL GARDEN
TAKEN FROM HTTP://AGGIE-HORTICULTURE.TAMU.EDU/KINDERGARDEN/CHILD/SCHOOL/STEP.HTM

Step 1- Form a Garden Committee

More than a one-man job; form a Garden
Committee
Dedicated people to find/train volunteers,
research, plan
 Look for volunteers among school staff, parents,
and locals
 Seek help of gardeners/ landscape architects


Next find funds to support garden


Seek awards, grants, and donations from
hardware suppliers
Garden is permanent and needs year-round
attn
STARTING A SCHOOL GARDEN
TAKEN FROM HTTP://AGGIE-HORTICULTURE.TAMU.EDU/KINDERGARDEN/CHILD/SCHOOL/STEP.HTM

Step 2: Find Purpose & Objectives for garden

Foods that grow in New England- reinforces social
studies, earth science and geography

Garden becomes a teaching aid to children

Kids will understand agriculture/growing

Rely on constant support in growing season; trustees
from clubs in school & local volunteers

Kids run business in farmers markets
STARTING A SCHOOL GARDEN
TAKEN FROM HTTP://AGGIE-HORTICULTURE.TAMU.EDU/KINDERGARDEN/CHILD/SCHOOL/STEP.HTM

Step 3: The role of a lead grower

Schedule each lesson plan- when and
what types

Determine which groups of students
will be doing what and when, then
determine how bed space will be
allocated

Chance to schedule specific activities
at specific times or assign tasks to
volunteers
STARTING A SCHOOL GARDEN
TAKEN FROM HTTP://AGGIE-HORTICULTURE.TAMU.EDU/KINDERGARDEN/CHILD/SCHOOL/STEP.HTM

Step 4: Define a year-round garden plan
Identify what garden will be like while school
is in session
 Who will keep garden maintained during
school breaks?
 How should the garden look on the first day of
school?
 Year-round garden plan will account for
school breaks

STARTING A SCHOOL GARDEN
TAKEN FROM HTTP://AGGIE-HORTICULTURE.TAMU.EDU/KINDERGARDEN/CHILD/SCHOOL/STEP.HTM

Step 5: Design the garden
 Needs ample sunlight
 Good drainage
 Close proximity to water
 Plan for constant attention to
garden to keep it up
STARTING A SCHOOL GARDEN
TAKEN FROM HTTP://AGGIE-HORTICULTURE.TAMU.EDU/KINDERGARDEN/CHILD/SCHOOL/STEP.HTM

Step 6: Build garden according to plan


Teachers, volunteers, students and
parents pool resources
Build the garden: permanent addition to
the school and community.
CURRENT GARDEN COMMITTEE

Volunteered support and advice from:





Sterns Organic Farm, Framingham MA
 Kathy Huckins & crew
Hansons Farms, Framingham MA
 Tom, Martha and Matt Hanson
Framingham Community Garden
Committee
 Marion deLaubenfels
Framingham State College
 Student intern Raquel Vazquez
Framingham Schools
 Students, staff and clubs