Truckee Elementary currently has a dilapidated, large school garden that was constructed 20 years ago but has not received any improvements since then. The garden currently features a broken irrigation system, 12 rotting garden beds, uneven grown with unsafe paving stones, and outdoor classroom bench seating that needs to be removed for safety. This grant seeks to purchase 12 new raised garden beds made from the Shane McConkey Don't Drop the Top Program. Truckee Elementary promotes recycling and is currently collecting bottle caps on site to support the creation of these benches and garden beds. The Don't Drop the Top program encourages community involvement in residents recycling plastic tops into collection bins throughout the Tahoe Truckee area. Truckee Elementary is a drop off location for this program. Community members can drop #2, #4, and #5 plastic tops and lids in the collection bin. A large community sorting event is held at Truckee Elementary annually, with over 120 student and community volunteers. The plastic from the school will be turned into strong plastic lumber to make the raised garden boxes.
This school garden revitalization seeks to use the garden as a tool to help the English learning students. School gardens have proven social-emotional benefits of being in nature to help kids regulate and work through “big feelings.” School gardens offer significant social and emotional benefits for students by fostering a sense of community and collaboration. Working together in a garden encourages teamwork, communication, and mutual respect, as students learn to share responsibilities and support each other in achieving common goals. The act of nurturing plants also promotes emotional well-being, as students experience the satisfaction and pride of seeing their hard work come to fruition. Additionally, time spent in the garden provides opportunities for mindfulness and stress relief, helping students build resilience and emotional regulation. The connection to nature also has a calming effect, which can improve students' focus and overall mental health, making gardens a valuable tool for promoting emotional and social development.
We aim to provide students with the opportunities to put their daily learning in the classroom to scientific applications such as growing plants from seeds, studying native plants and ecosystems including pollinators. We seek to fertilize the garden with compost from the cafeteria. Currently compost already occurs but gets relocated off-site. Additionally, we aim to provide a peaceful place in nature for students to learn and play together. We are a title one school that implements supportive and rigorous instruction to meet student needs. We have over 100 staff members to address student challenges with language, school materials, mentorship, and closing achievement gaps across all subjects. Specifically we have students with cognitive and physical disabilities that will utilize the benefits of this outdoor space. Students that struggle with language acquisition and this project will give hands on connections to the sciences. Specifically these students get access to education around healthy food options. These raised garden beds will support students' social and emotional wellbeing by providing an outdoor outlet for learning, brain breaks, and providing a peaceful and calming space for students.
This program will be evaluated by the number of students who access the benefits of this space. We plan for all students and staff to benefit from this project. The creation of garden beds and benches for an outdoor classroom enhances the learning environment by promoting hands-on, experiential education. Garden beds allow students to engage in gardening activities, learn about plant biology, sustainability, and nutrition, while also fostering teamwork and responsibility as they care for the plants. We seek to create a space that not only supports academic learning but also nurtures creativity, physical activity, and a deeper connection to nature, enhancing the overall educational experience.
Students will plant in the garden beds as a grade level. Each grade level will have a garden bed to care for, sow, maintain, and harvest. We will have community experts support the learning in the school garden through demonstrations, lessons, and hands on work. Outside of their classroom times in the garden, students will be able to work in the garden over recesses and for social and emotional therapy. The Boys and Girls Club of Truckee Elementary will have access to the garden and outdoor classroom. High School TA's will support the maintenance of the garden while working with students. Afterschool programs like the GRIT program could use this space to learn, and get their hands dirty through experience working in the garden.
This grant will be utilized by all students and staff at Truckee Elementary. All students will benefit from these funds. Additionally, the Boys and Girls Club of Truckee will be able to utilize this space. over 500 students will be able to utilize the social, emotional, and educational benefits of this space.
This grant targets just the cost of the raised garden beds. Additionally we will be seeking funding from the Truckee Rotary for garden storage and tools/ equipment for student use. We will seek bench seating from the Parasol Foundation to bring students together for lessons in this garden space. The other funding will be used to level the uneven ground, install low-flow drip irrigation, repaint the broken pergola, re-soil and mulch the planter beds, remove the water feature, and plant native plants and some food-oriented plants to support the cafeteria. Our school garden project is also seeking sponsorship from the local Public Utility District. These funds from the PUD will hopefully target the costs of irrigation, soil, tools, and storage materials. We are also obtaining funds from our PTO (Parent Teacher Association). A local painting company is donating materials for paint. A portion of the soil and landscaping needs is being donated. Grateful Gardens has visited this space twice and committed to donating all of the plants for the project. Parent and community volunteers will be donating their time as well.
While we are aiming for full funding, if partial funding is needed, we will happily accept another amount to support the garden beds for this outdoor learning space. If you need any other information about this project and what we have accomplished so far, please reach out.