Sept. 27, 2024 Non-profit agency Gardopia Gardens is excited to announce the launch of a new Jumpstart program in collaboration with its partner, national nonprofit Big Green. This grant will install gardens at 13 schools across the San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD) and provide $2,000 in funding for five additional schools to enhance their existing gardening efforts. Teachers will learn how to install the beds and place the plants at their kick-off event on Saturday, Sept. 28 at 10 a.m. at Pershing Elementary, 600 Sandmeyer St.
“Gardopia’s work has and will continue to build on the strong partnership with SAISD, SAISD Foundation and a groundswell of support from the greater San Antonio community. We are grateful for the programs and hands-on learning experiences the organization provides for our youth,” said Pershing Elementary School Principal Shelene Livas.
Following a successful rollout earlier this year in February, when 22 schools received gardens and/or grants through this partnership, this expansion helps foster food security, health equity and environmental stewardship through garden-based learning.
“The layers of funding both from Big Green and the USDA is a huge investment in the futures of our children in San Antonio,” said Chief Executive Officer of Gardopia Gardens Stephen Lucke. “Our ability to bring physical gardens into schools is a big win alone, but to have additional funding to create supplemental digital curriculum to support these gardens pushes our garden-based learning approach forward in a much more impactful way.”
The digital curriculum will feature an online workbook and 60 learning videos designed for both students and teachers, enriching their understanding of topics such as sustainable agriculture, healthy eating habits, the environmental impacts of food production, and more.
Also supporting this initiative are the SAISD Foundation, H-E-B, and Methodist Healthcare Ministries. Together in total, 50 outdoor soil gardens will be in use with students by the end of 2024.