In an effort to promote hands-on learning and interactive STEM - science, technology, engineering and math - education, Western Growers has awarded 20 K-12 schools a grant for $1,500 to support a new school garden. Olive Street Elementary School is one of the 20 schools to receive the grant. Through these sponsored gardens and selected curriculum, students will learn about the science of how seeds become salads, the technology available to enhance plant growth, the engineering behind farm equipment, and the math to calculate how much water is needed for optimal yield.
“Western Growers is proud to support elementary, middle and high schools throughout California and Arizona in their efforts to promote student learning and understanding of STEM-related topics,” said Tom Nassif, president and CEO of Western Growers. “We hope that these gardens will help children see the connections between STEM subjects and farming, inspire them to pursue advanced STEM degrees and, eventually, apply their knowledge to highly-skilled careers in the agricultural industry.”
Each school awarded a grant had not previously had a garden, and the funds will be used for start-up gardens. The 20 that were awarded a grant to launch a new school garden are as follows: