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.

Join Greater Newark Conservancy in honoring the remarkable George Washington Carver – a true pioneer in the fields of agricultural science, invention, and education. Carver's innovative approach to crop rotation and his extensive work with peanuts revolutionized sustainable agriculture, laying the groundwork for environmental stewardship and healthy living. As an educator, he shared his knowledge generously, empowering farmers and students alike. His dedication to science and community upliftment remains a beacon of inspiration to us all. This February, let's remember and celebrate the incredible legacy of George Washington Carver, whose contributions continue to enrich our world. 

Since 1982, the Youth Garden Grant has supported school and youth educational garden projects that enhance the quality of life for youth and their communities. We are thankful for the opportunities given to school gardens across the United States through KidsGardening, and are happy to announce we were one of 50 programs to receive the 2024 Youth Garden Grant. Our FoodCorps Service Member worked diligently on this grant application to help revitalize her school garden at Harriet Tubman Elementary School and provide new beds for her students!  

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, February 10th @ 10:30-12pm

Join us for our monthly family-friendly Second Saturday Family Adventures as we trace back to our oldest roots of making fire (safely) in the garden! We'll learn about the science of making fire, build our own fire, and try our hand at campfire cooking!

Registration is required, but the program is FREE! Dress appropriately as this is an outdoor program.

REGISTER HERE

Nuts & Bolts and Seeds & Soil Workshop

In-Person

Tuesday, February 13th @ 4:00-5:30pm

Join us at Greater Newark Conservancy for our Nuts & Bolts and Seeds & Soil workshop, where we will focus on the mechanics of growing plants within a school garden and will help you plan and grow a productive, organic, bountiful garden during the school year.

REGISTER HERE

Growing School Gardens Summit

In-Person

Thursday, March 14th - March 18th, 2024

San Diego, California

A national conference focused entirely on school gardening, the summit will unite 600 educators and leaders to share innovations and harness our collective power for future change. The Growing School Gardens Summit is hosted by the Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation in Partnership with Life Lab and the School Garden Support Organization (SGSO) Network.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Check out this school year's Newark Grows School Garden Workshop schedule below!

This past month in January, our FoodCorps Service Members used the Jersey Fresh Harvest of the Month to create many different Blueberry Smoothie recipes! Mr. Pablo at McKinley Elementary School completed his first cafeteria-wide taste test, where he handed out over 120 samples of his Blue-nana Smoothie to staff and students. It was a hit, as many students begged for more throughout the lunch period!

This month's Jersey Fresh Harvest of the Month is Sweet Potatoes! Sweet Potatoes are in season in New Jersey during late summer into the winter, from late July through December. Once harvested, you can cure sweet potatoes and they will last 4-6 months on average.To learn more, visit this activity page 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! 

Why should you never tell secrets on a farm?

Because the potatoes have eyes and the corn have ears!

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.