What We Do

Our Programs

Professional Development
The SFGSA provides effective and exciting professional development for school garden communities seeking practical information aboutmanaging and teaching in an outdoor classroom. Our professional development inspires teachers to use outdoor classrooms to teach content standards and instill environmental stewardship; and it gives teachers the training and resources necessary to help them sustain their outdoor classroom programs.

SFGSA offers and promotes these opportunities:

  • bi-annual professional development series for teachers, parents, and school communities called The Ecology of the School Garden produced in collaboration with SF Botanical Garden at Strybing Arboretum
  • 5-day residential school garden training with Occidental Arts and Ecology Center in Sonoma County
  • garden coordinator trainings provided in collaborating with Garden for the Environment
  • various local gardening and environmental education trainings (see list of links)

 

Green Schoolyard Sustainability
The Green Schoolyard Sustainability Program encompasses the range of support we offer to school communities building or using school gardens and outdoor classrooms. We help school communities develop organizational strategies to maximize their outreach and fundraising in order to sustain their projects from year to year. SFGSA acts as a regional support network, disseminating relevant information, resources, and procuring free horticultural materials for school sites. We provide:

  • Information about local and statewide professional development
  • Interactive SFGSA website
  • A Resource Directory for green schoolyards throughout the Bay Area
  • A Monthly SFGSA Resource Digest
  • School Garden Listserv for teachers and garden coordinators
  • Garden based education curriculum  library
  • Stormwater curriculum
  • Horticultural resources such as compost, mulch, plants, seeds, and soil
  • A monthly grants calendar

 

Green Schoolyard Advocacy
On behalf of school gardens and green schoolyards, SFGSA works to inform and shift District and City priorities to recognize green schoolyards as the locus for improving student achievement, through hands-on, experiential education. The program includes:

  • Meetings with City agencies and supervisors to inform and influence legislation and budgets
  • Networking with local organizations involved in urban agriculture and nutrition
  • Collaboration with SFUSD Director of Sustainability to move District-wide environmental initiatives forward
  • Ongoing discussions with state and national organizations to promote and locate resources for green schoolyards.