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.   

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.

On June 7, 2024, Trust for Public Land, Greater Newark Conservancy, and the Coalition for Healthy Food in Newark Schools collaborated to host the inaugural 'Newark Grows School Garden Tour'. This event aimed to showcase the impact of school gardens in Newark, New Jersey, and to promote the importance of integrating gardening and healthy food education into school curricula.

The 'Newark Grows School Garden Tour' took place across several schools in Newark known for their successful implementation of garden-based learning programs. Participating schools included Thirteenth Avenue, Link Community Charter, New Jersey Regional Day, Barringer High School, Louise A. Spencer, and St. Benedict’s Preparatory, each of which has been supported by the Trust for Public Land and/ or the Greater Newark Conservancy in establishing and maintaining their gardens.

Nearly 40 attendees embarked on guided tours of the school gardens. Each tour was led by students and teachers who shared insights into the gardening process, the types of crops grown, and the educational activities conducted within the gardens. Participants had the opportunity to observe firsthand how these outdoor classrooms enhance students’ understanding of nutrition, agriculture, and environmental sustainability.

The 'Newark Grows School Garden Tour' attracted a diverse audience, including educators, students, parents, community leaders, and local residents. This community engagement highlighted the widespread support for initiatives that promote health, education, and community empowerment. Participants exchanged ideas and best practices, fostering collaboration among schools and community organizations committed to sustainable urban living.

The 'Newark Grows School Garden Tour' was a resounding success, celebrating the achievements of Newark’s schools in promoting health, nutrition, and environmental stewardship through garden-based education. It underscored the transformative impact of hands-on learning experiences and community partnerships in shaping the next generation of informed and engaged citizens.

Moving forward, the Trust for Public Land, Greater Newark Conservancy, and the Coalition for Healthy Food in Newark Schools remain committed to expanding access to school gardens and advocating for policies that support garden-based education across Newark. The event served as a testament to the power of collaborative efforts in creating healthier and more vibrant communities.

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!

These Family Programs are great to enjoy with a young person, 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, July 13th @ 10:30-12pm

Join us for Second Saturday Family Adventures as we explore all the bugs and insects that surround our Outdoor Learning Center! We'll meet some of our pet critters we take care of, as well as going on a bug scavenger hunt throughout our site. We will have various activities around bugs for all ages!

This program is free, but registration is required! If we hit capacity, please reach out to pevans@citybloom.org to be placed on the waitlist!

REGISTER HERE

Bilingual Family Engagement

Virtual

Wednesday, July 31st @ 2:30pm

Families are a crucial element of the school garden ecosystem, and are often overlooked when planning garden programming. Join two of the Wasatch Community Gardens Youth and School Program team to learn about successes and challenges of engaging families in school garden spaces at two sites in Salt Lake City, Utah. Discuss culturally competent “best practices” for working with families and learn ideas for starting bilingual family engagement programs at your own sites.

REGISTER HERE

National Children & Youth Garden Symposium

In-Person

The American Horticultural Society’s 32nd Annual National Children and Youth Garden Symposium will be held on Chicago’s North Shore from Monday, July 8 to Thursday, July 11, 2024, in partnership with the Chicago Botanic Garden.

Reinvigorate your passion to educate a new generation about the importance of gardening. Network, engage, collaborate, and learn from like-minded peers across the country.

MORE INFO HERE

School gardens have been around for decades, serving as a place for students to learn, grow, and play in a natural environment outside the traditional school walls. They are places where children can roam free, connecting to the earth, one little seedling at a time. Listen to the many students impacted by the school garden programming facilitated by Greater Newark Conservancy!

This month's Jersey Fresh Harvest of the Month in July is Zucchini! You can easily grow zucchini yourself in your backyard or school garden. When adding zucchini to your garden, just one plant should do it. One zucchini plant can produce six to ten pounds of zucchini! Learn more about Zucchini here.

The Coalition for Healthy Food in Newark Schools (HFiNS) is thrilled to announce its official launch, bolstered by a generous grant of $3.8M from Novo Nordisk. This funding spans over the next three years and is dedicated to improving the Newark school food system with community participation and input. Greater Newark Conservancy is serving as the lead organization in this initiative, with this award representing the largest grant awarded to the agency in its 36-year history. HFiNS steering committee includes several other agencies that serve Newark, including Common Market, FoodCorps NJ, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, RWJ Barnabas Health, United Way of Greater Newark, and the Urban Agriculture Cooperative. All work together with the shared goal of transforming Newark’s school food system; these partners are committed to ensuring every student has access to fresh, healthy, and culturally relevant foods. Click here to learn more! 

What is a zucchini's favorite sport?

 Squash!

Source: Wisconsin School Garden Network

Interested in bringing your students to the Outdoor Learning Center at Greater Newark Conservancy to experience the joy of nature-based education? Fill out this Field Trip Interest Form! We offer a variety of field trip programs that will spark the interest of any youth. Whether they are learning about urban habitats, diving into the world of bugs and insects, or seeing how worms can break down our food into a valuable soil amendment, your students will leave our site with a host of knowledge! For more information reach out to soleary@citybloom.org.

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.