SECRETARY KAWAMURA TO JOIN FIRST LADY MARIA SHRIVER FOR SCHOOL GARDEN MAKEOVER IN WATTS

SACRAMENTO, October 19, 2006-Secretary A.G. Kawamura will join First Lady Maria Shriver as they kick off California School Garden Week by revitalizing a half-acre school garden at Locke High School in Watts on Saturday, October 21.  The school is located at 325 East 111th Street, and the event runs from 10:00 a.m. to 3 p.m.
 
Organized by the California School Garden Network (CSGN), the event brings together over 100 students, teachers, school staff and community members who will spend the day revitalizing a school garden in need of an “extreme garden makeover.” By the end of the day, Locke High School will be the new home of a beautiful, productive school garden—an environment that enhances academic achievement, healthy lifestyles, environmental stewardship, and community and social development. 

“A garden is a wonderful place for kids to learn about the joys and struggles of food production, get connected to our earth’s soil, and take pride in what their own hands have created,” said Secretary Kawamura. “Gardens reinforce the value of healthy living and active lifestyles.”

The garden event at Locke High School will also feature an interactive resource fair where representatives from the California Farm Bureau Federation, California Association Future Farmers of America, California Rare Fruit Growers Association, California Farm to School Program, Los Angeles County Agricultural Commissioners Office, Sunkist, Western Growers, and the Los Angeles County Farm Bureau-among others-will be giving away prizes, handouts and pertinent information on agricultural education, volunteerism, and healthy living.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, in partnership with CSGN, has proclaimed October 21 through October 27 as California School Garden Week to promote opportunities for children to discover fresh food, make healthier food choices, and become better nourished.  Schools throughout California are being asked to celebrate with small events highlighting their garden or their desire to create a garden at their school.

At this event, CSGN will also launch its school garden guidebook, “Gardens for Learning:  Creating and Sustaining Your School Garden.”  This comprehensive guidebook provides a foundation to support the school garden movement. A hardcopy of this publication will be available for free for California educators who sign up at the event and will soon be downloadable at csgn.org.

CSGN is a 501c(3) corporation that came together through the passion of its members, who represent more than 40 public and private organizations, educational institutions, and state agencies.  Dedicated to having a garden in every California school, this network has combined efforts to develop a “one-stop shop” for educators seeking information about growing and sustaining school gardens.