Homegrown: Growing school gardens

School lunches have been in the spotlight nationwide and we've all heard about the challenges in making them healthier for our children.  An initiative in Iowa City will help schools move in that direction. I wish I could be in two places at once this Saturday, as the Iowa City event is at the same time as the Winter Gardening Fair in Cedar Rapids.

If you do plan to attend the Growing School Gardens workshop in Iowa City, please note that registration is required by Friday.

Here is more about the event from coordinator Heather Widmayer:

Growing School Gardens: Training Workshop

Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Iowa City Public Library, Room A

IOWA CITY – The Iowa City Community School District's Farm to School Chapter will be hosting a school garden training workshop on Saturday, February 18, 2012, at the Iowa City Public Library, Room A.

The workshop is open to teachers, staff, parents, students, and community members who are interested in starting or expanding a school garden. The workshop will cover topics about how to start and grow a garden, as well as providing ideas for how to incorporate gardens in the classroom.

Speakers will include David Cavagnaro, School Garden Coordinator with the Northeast Iowa Food and Fitness Initiative in Decorah, Iowa; Scott Koepke, Education Outreach Coordinator with New Pioneer Food Co-op/Soilmates; Fred Meyer, Director of Backyard Abundance; along with a panel of teachers, staff, students, and community members who currently work with students in ICCSD school gardens. The workshop will also feature community organizations that are interested in assisting with school gardens. Nearly 70 people from Johnson County and surrounding counties are registered to attend this event.

Ten ICCSD schools currently have edible school gardens, and up to seven additional ICCSD schools are considering starting a garden this spring. In addition Mark Twain Elementary is participating with the USDA People's Garden School Pilot Program which will provide a garden for the school. At this time last year, only three ICCSD schools had edible school gardens.

This workshop is made possible by a grant from the Community Foundation of Johnson County and support from New Pioneer Food Co-op/Soilmates.

This is a free event, but registration is required. Registration is available online through Friday, February 17, 2012, at http://www.eventbrite.com/event/2011248699