Grant Environmental Organization Healthy Fundraising Bright Idea (Submitted on June 27, 2005)
What did they want to do?
Students at GrantHigh School come from many diverse backgrounds, and live in one of the more limited-resource neighborhoods in Sacramento. Although many of the neighborhood residents have a cultural history of gardening, major grocery stores cannot be found in the neighborhood. The food stores that are present offer primarily pre-packaged, less-nutritious products, and limited produce of questionable quality. In the late 1980's, a series of neighborhood surveys highlighted the need for greater investment in this community, and timely funding opportunities gave birth to a garden-based education program on the campus of GrantHigh School. This program continues to be a youth-led program that works on entrepreneurial garden and community beautification projects. The program trains youth in horticulture, business and landscape design principles so students have the skills and knowledge to obtain employment, access higher education and actively improve the community.
Who took action? University of California Davis Community Outreach Partnership Center conducted surveys in partnership with several youth who were involved in community beautification projects with a teacher. The teacher was hired to create the after-school program and teach plants and soils classes.
Where did this happen? Grant High School, GJUHSD - school
Why did they want to do it? Students at GrantHigh School come from many diverse backgrounds, and live in one of the more limited-resource neighborhoods in Sacramento. Although many of the neighborhood residents have a cultural history of gardening, major grocery stores cannot be found in the neighborhood. The food stores that are present offer primarily pre-packaged, less-nutritious products, and limited produce of questionable quality. In the late 1980's, a series of neighborhood surveys highlighted the need for greater investment in this community, and timely funding opportunities gave birth to a garden-based education program on the campus of GrantHigh School. This program continues to be a youth-led program that works on entrepreneurial garden and community beautification projects. The program trains youth in horticulture, business and landscape design principles so students have the skills and knowledge to obtain employment, access higher education and actively improve the community.
Background
How did they accomplish their goal?
Many student and school-related organizations rely on the sale of unhealthy foods and beverages to raise funds for their programs and activities. Grant Environmental Organization students began selling flowers that they had grown in their garden to raise funds for scholarships for graduating seniors. Area businesses subscribed to the flower delivery service, and vases of flower arrangements were delivered weekly. Not only did this project offer an alternative to selling unhealthy foods, it also helped the students develop entrepreneurial skills. Students were responsible for all aspects of the business: they solicited subscriptions, grew the flowers, created the bouquets, and delivered the final arrangements throughout Sacramento.
In the 2002-2003 school year, students pursued the idea of producing tomato-based products and selling them in the Sacramento area. They worked with a food scientist to develop the recipes for two salsa products and a marinara sauce. After partnering with local organic farmers and a small bottling company, the products hit the market in late 2003.
What were their results? The salsa and marinara sauce are being sold at the Sacramento and Davis Natural Foods Co-ops. Students have held taste testing events at these and other local locations to promote sales of the products. Because of the time commitment required to sell and produce the salsa and marinara sauces, flowers are now sold weekly at the Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op instead of being delivered to area businesses.
What are their future plans? As new students enroll in the program, it will continue to evolve to represent their interests and needs. The fundamentals of the program--garden-based business education--will continue, and students will continue being physically active as they learn how to raise nutritious vegetables using organic methods.
For More Information Contact Anne Marie Kennedy Grant High School, GJUHSD South Ave Sacramento, CA 95838 United States (916) 286-1245
[email protected]
