USDA Grant Award Announcement
Napa County Office of Education will establish an after-school wellness track at three high need elementary schools through Garden Enhanced Nutrition Education. The program will include implementation of quality curriculum, professional development for staff, the addition of student-grown produce to the supper program, and family outreach.1, 351 students at high need elementary schools will benefit from the program. Key partners include Napa Valley Unified SD, Phillips, Shearer and Snow Elementary Schools, UC Master Gardeners of Napa County, and The School Garden Doctor.
What is Garden Enhanced Nutrition Education (GENE)?
GENE is a research-based approach to nutrition education that incorporates growing, harvesting, and tasting garden-grown produce to increase:
- Nutrition knowledge
- Preferences for certain vegetables
This image at above right was used in the training given by UC Davis and Life Lab as part of a Specialty Crop Block Grant from CDFA. It outlines the three overlapping components of GENE:
- Hands on Gardening
- Nutrition Concepts
- Edible Activities
The NCOE Farm-to-School Grant awarded in 2019 added Physical Activity through the use of the JMG Learn, Grow, Eat, Go (LGEG) Curriculum.
Gardening Resources
Vegetable Planting and Harvest Tips
Photos from The Growing Classroom
Fall Planted
Chard
Spinach
Lettuce
Winter Planted
Broccoli
Lettuce
Radishes
Spring Planted
Carrots, Garlic, Lettuce,
Peas, Peppers, Potatoes,
Spinach, Tomatoes
Summer Planted
Broccoli
Carrots
Cauliflower
Peas
Additional References
Bonus Bites
Curriculum
Supplemental Resources
- Growing Microgreens (Google Classroom)
- Indicators of Ripeness (LGEG)
- School Year Planting Options (Drive)
Professional Learning
Bite-Sized Video Series
With funding from a USDA Farm-to-School grant awarded to Napa County Office of Education in 2019, implementers establish an after-school wellness track using Garden Enhanced Nutrition Education. The program will included implementation of quality curriculum, professional development for staff, the addition of student-grown produce, and family outreach. Key partners included Calistoga Joint Unified School District, Taylor Mountain Elementary School, Camille Creek Community School and The School Garden Doctor.
Watch Videos: Bite-Sized Video Series
The first bite-sized video series provides an overview of the components of GENE, introduces the Learn, Grow, Eat, Go! curricular framework and offers tips for pacing lessons.
Video Descriptions
- Part 1 provides an overview of Garden Enhanced Nutrition Education by introducing the three components of GENE: Nutrition Concepts, Hands-On Garden Lessons, and Edible Activities.
- Part 2 demonstrates Garden Enhanced Nutrition Education using a sample lesson sequence in which students learn about popcorn. Students will love sharing recipes with their families.
- Part 3 offers suggestions for how to pace and sequence Garden Enhanced Nutrition Education taking seasonal growing, garden availability, and age of student participants.
Bite-Sized Video Series:
Curricular Resources
Learn, Grow, Eat, Go
LGEG grows good kids through an interdisciplinary program combining academic achievement, gardening, nutrient-dense food experiences, physical activity, and school & family engagement.
Harvest of the Month Downloads
French Fries and the Food System (Middle/High)
This agricultural curriculum features powerful, original lessons written and developed by The Food Project’s growers and educators. Organized by season, the materials teach youth how to develop a deep understanding of and appreciation for the land and local food systems. Lessons can be done both indoors and outdoors and can be easily adapted by instructors working in school-based plots, urban food lots, and environmental education programs.
Suggested Weekly Pacing
Week 1
Learn:
Community Building Activity: “Step inside the circle if…” using the prompts from “Getting to Know You” Bingo or the Bingo Activity Sheet itself
Grow:
Fall Scavenger Hunt (Focus on Seeds, FF&FS, p. 62)
Week 2
Eat:
Rate the Taste with seasonal fruit (e.g., persimmon) OR Try This Seed (IDOF, p. 47-50)
- Food Rule: Safety First (Handwashing 101)
- Graph the Results
Go:
Dance Party
Week 3
Learn:
- Discuss: How does diet impact health?
- Watch: Video Clip: Meet Anthony Scavotto
Grow:
- Team 1: Measuring the Area and Choosing the Vegetables (FF&FS, p. 93/Winter Lesson 1)
- Team 2: Getting to Know a Seed Catalog/Placing the Seed Order (FF& FS, p. 94, 96)
Additional References:
Bonus Bites:
Curriculum:
Week 4
Eat:
Rate the Taste with seasonal fruit (e.g., persimmon) OR Try This Seed (IDOF, p. 47-50)
- Food Rule: Don’t Yuck My Yum!
(whichever not done in Week 2)
- Discuss the plant part you eat (e.g., fruit vs. root, stem, leaf, etc.)
Go:
Lesson 3: Planning Out the Garden (FF&FS, p. 95)
- Have students measure with “body measurements” to get them to walk the perimeter
Cooking With Students
Family & Community Outreach
Harvest of the Month Family Newsletters
The family newsletter takes Harvest of the Month from school to the home, allowing students and their families to share the experience.
References
Bonus Bites
Curriculum
Supplemental Resources
