Free Guides for Teachers on Composting with Worms!

This link is a free publication on vermicomposting (composting with worms), and is especially geared towards teachers:
http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/Publications/Schools/56001007.pdf

This link offers numerous activities for integrating vermicomposting into classroom curriculum:
http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/Schools/Curriculum/Worms/98Activities.pdf

Family gardens on the rise!

Here's an article that talks about how many families are planting gardens at home to save money on their grocery bills. Many of these families are first time gardeners! What a great topic to talk about at PTA meetings and information to share during parent-teacher conferences! For more info, please visit: http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/04/01/recession.garden/index.html?iref=t2test_livingwed

Good News in Pickens!

A.R. Lewis Elementary School in Pickens is making huge strides in their fresh snack program and their school garden. For more information, check out this link: http://www.greenvilleonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/200903310200/NEWS04/903310326

Washington D.C. Area School Gardens

Thanks to Wendy Myers for sharing this great article about the many school garden projects going on in the Washington, D.C. area. Please check out this link for the details: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/29/AR2009032902221.html?hpid=sec-education

Planning a new garden!!

Plangarden software has an interactive layout design of the new vegetable garden at the White House. Plangarden software also allows beginning community gardeners to design and plan their gardens to meet the group objects. To read an interesting article about this software, please visit: http://www.theenergydaily.com/pressreleases/environmental_services/200903241539PR_NEWS_USPR_____LA88410.html

The People's Garden!

Before the new garden at the White House was planted, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack broke through asphalt at the United States Department of Agriculture to create "The People's Garden." The garden is designed to encourage average people to start their own gardens, as well as increasing awareness and appreciation of "green" concepts such as water retention and conservation, using native plants, soil conservation and appreciationg local, seasonal food production. For more information about The People's Garden, please visit: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/%21ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB/.cmd/ad/.ar/sa.retrievecontent/.c/6_2_1UH/.ce/7_2_5JM/.p/5_2_4TQ/.d/1/_th/J_2_9D/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?PC_7_2_5JM_contentid=2009%2F02%2F0042.xml&PC_7_2_5JM_parentnav=LATEST_RELEASES&PC_7_2_5JM_navid=NEWS_RELEASE#7_2_5JM

Composting & the Green Steps for Environmental Education program

Some of you may be interested in learning more about composting as you are working on your gardening projects. The Green Steps for Environmental Education program has some good information about composting and other environmental projects that your school might be interested in, as well as the requirements for being recognized as a South Carolina Green Steps School. For more information about composting and the Green Steps program, please visit: http://www.greenstepschools.com/greensteps/SampleProjects/composting.asp