Welcome everyone to our monthly E-Newsletter, supporting a network of school garden advocates! We will keep you updated on the latest news and work being done across school gardens programs here in Newark, New Jersey, and the best resources from across the country.   

Scroll down to reach our section on Grant Opportunities to see current opportunities for your school garden programs. The Whole Kids Foundation Garden Grant and Sustainable Jersey for Schools Grants we suggest applying for as those deadlines end in early-March.

Looking for a specific resource? Interested in having your own resources published? Reach out to us to discuss more at pevans@citybloom.org and we will be more than happy to help.

We are excited for our upcoming 2nd Annual Newark Grows School Gardens Tour, showcasing school garden programs thriving here in Newark, New Jersey! The Newark Grows School Gardens Tour will take place on Friday, June 13th and will showcase outstanding school garden programs throughout Newark. We will be revealing these schools very soon so stay tuned and look out for registration coming out in the coming weeks.  

Please feel free to reach out to Sarah O'Leary (soleary@citybloom.org), Bryanna Fogel (bryanna.fogel@tpl.org), or Patrick Evans (pevans@citybloom.org) for more information. 

We are teaming with New Jersey Audobon and the National Wildlife Federation to help get 30 urban habitats certified in Newark.  National Wildlife Federation (NWF) created this national recognition program designed to raise visibility and awareness about the ecological importance of small landscape sites. Our gardens provide essential resources for wildlife including pollinators and songbirds! Eco-friendly gardens honor the reciprocity of our relationship to the natural world.

Certified Wildlife Habitats must include Food, Water, Cover, Places to Raise Young, and Use Sustainable Practices.  Your garden may already qualify, and this program can help provide additional resources such as native plants, a birdbath, and/or information on sustainable landscape maintenance. 

The goal is to get 30 sites certified by May 15! You will receive a certificate and garden signage. We will contact all selected sites with information about available material resources.  NJA is covering all costs of certification, signage, and materials provided.

These Family Programs are great to enjoy with your little ones, but you can join in on your own for an informal professional development session. They are an opportunity to see ways our environmental educators encourage kids to develop wonder, make observations, construct understanding, and engage in science conversations.  You can also learn some cool crafts, healthy recipes, and ways to incorporate more hands-on, engaged learning.

Second Saturday Family Adventures

In-Person

Saturday, May 10th @ 10:30-12pm

Join us for a thrilling exploration of the nighttime world! This family-friendly program dives into the fascinating realm of nocturnal animals and their unique behaviors.

What to Expect:
-Owl Pellet Dissection: Get hands-on with real science as we dissect owl pellets to learn about their diet and hunting strategies.
-Nocturnal Animal Identification: Learn how to identify animals that thrive in the dark through interactive activities.

This immersive experience is perfect for families eager to learn more about the creatures of the night in an engaging, educational setting. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to connect with nature's nightlife!

SOLD OUT! Please reach out to pevans@citybloom.org to be placed on the waitlist!

So You Want to Start a School Garden Workshop

In-Person

Wednesday, May 28th @ 4-5:30pm

Curious about how to bring a thriving garden program to your school? Join us for an engaging, in-person workshop where we’ll walk you through the essentials of starting and sustaining a successful school garden—no matter your level of experience!

We'll cover everything from designing your garden and developing basic gardening skills to organizing the resources you’ll need and managing your space as an outdoor classroom. Plus, learn how to align your garden with your school or program goals to create meaningful learning opportunities for students of all ages.

Whether you're a teacher, school staff member, or community partner, this workshop is your first step toward growing something great. 

REGISTER HERE

2025 National GrowTogether Conference

In-Person

Thursday, June 5th - Sunday, June 8th 

This inspiring four-day gathering of community gardeners and leaders nationwide will celebrate the power of urban green spaces and community gardening in New York City. All activities are free and open to the public.

REGISTER AND LEARN MORE HERE

Celebrating Cultural Inclusion in the Garden

KidsGardening is happy to announce our newest e-course "Celebrating Cultural Inclusion in the School Garden!" This free e-course supports educators as they learn how to center cultural learning in their school garden program with a new curriculum of lesson plans, growing guides, and more. Its creation was supported in part by the USDA Patrick Leahy Farm to School Program.

This is a self-paced with unlimited access to the course materials.

REGISTER HERE

This month's Jersey Fresh Harvest of the Month is Spinach! Spinach likes to be directly seeded into the ground, and it grows into a leafy green, which is the part of the plant we
eat. Spinach loves the cooler weather and if it lives through a frost the legend is that it actually becomes sweeter!  Check out recipes and fun activities around Spinach here!

Did you miss our recent seedling giveaway and hoping to get seeds and seedlings still? Absolutely not a problem. Just stop by Greater Newark Conservancy during office hours (9-5pm) and find a staff member near the greenhouse to assist you!

Why did the asparagus take up gardening?

It wanted to connect with its roots.

Source: Wisconsin School Garden Network

Register your school garden to be a part of our Newark School Garden Support Network and see where other school gardens are located near you!

The work that we do would not be possible without the generosity of our donors. While we had to put some of our on-site programs temporarily on hold during the COVID-19 crisis, we are back to normal operations and ramping up a number of programs and activities at our Outdoor Learning Center, the Hawthorne Avenue Urban Farm, school partner gardens, as well as various virtual workshops.