Decommissioned!

This blog is now part of our website here.

Raise a Glass to Learning Gardens Everywhere!

Green Thumbs runs award-winning programs for children and youth in dense urban neighbourhoods, cultivating a deep connection to healthy fresh food and learning how nature sustains us. Imagine a garden in every school!

 

We’re having a party and would love you to come. Raise your glass to Green Thumbs Growing Kids’ learning gardens programs for kids, youth and our neighbourhoods. Try biodynamic wines of Southbrook Winery paired with delicious bites prepared by chef Chris Klugman of Paintbox Bistro, and delectables from Chocosol. There’ll be tunes courtesy of Regent Park School of Music, plus an amazing Silent Auction. You won’t want to miss it!

Date: Saturday November 28

Time: 4-7 pm

Place: PaintBox Bistro, 555 Dundas St. East

Get tickets here. If you are unable to attend but would like to support Green Thumbs you can make a donation here.

 

A double-double black magic kale, please!

Five-year-olds don’t always want to eat their vegetables. But when they’ve spent time exploring a schoolyard garden and picking their own, eating vegetables is suddenly exciting. Call it a “Salad Celebration,” and orders for a “double-double black magic kale” start rolling in.

More than 160 children and parents a week enjoyed summer activities hosted by Green Thumbs this year at Winchester and Lord Dufferin Public Schools. Celebrating local food in our downtown eastside community meant trying new textures and flavours as part of learning how to identify edible plants and understand what makes them healthy for us. “I am a carrot,” said one 6-year-old, when told that he is what he eats. “I can always find this type of root in my fridge!”

Ecosystem learning

Healthy food grows best in a healthy ecosystem, where biodiversity can thrive. Investigating worms and insects and how they build their homes in the Green Thumbs gardens was another popular summer activity. “I am certain that we are growing little green thumbs and a healthy community that appreciates the local environment,” said Food and Garden Educator, Ivanna Prots. “I believe we are raising the next generation to solve environmental problems.”

“I hope we can do the same program again next year,” one teacher wrote following a day in the garden. But one  child said it best: “I would like to stay with Green Thumbs forever!”

Green Thumbs is deeply grateful to our 2014-2015 Food and Garden Educator, Ivanna Prots. As a Master of Science in Botany and Zoology with 10+ years of experience working with students of all ages and learning styles, Ms. Prots brought a respectful and empathetic teaching style and broad-based knowledge of environmental issues relating to soil, plants, animals, and insects to our garden and greenhouse programs. Experienced in both curriculum design and delivery for large and small groups, she is particularly gifted in using garden-and-art-based learning to open windows for students with special needs, including those with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Ivanna Prots is off on new adventures, and we wish her the very best!

Summer at Green Thumbs

Summer at Green Thumbs

by James Malekzadeh

This summer I had the pleasure of working with Green Thumbs Growing Kids as a Garden Program Leader. When I learned that I was hired, I was very excited for the opportunity to have such a unique summer job. I did not know, however, that I would learn countless new things and substantially grow as a person in my two months with the organization.

James (left), with moms and program leaders at Rose Ave. PS Parenting Centre

Besides all of the valuable gardening knowledge I attained, which I cannot overstate, I feel that my entire social consciousness changed while working for Green Thumbs. Getting involved in neighbourhoods like Regent Park and St. James Town introduced me to falsely stigmatized areas that I had only walked through or read about.

I learned the importance of promoting locally grown, healthy food in densely populated and historically low-income areas. The more I immersed myself in the community gardens and the culture surrounding urban gardening, the more I began to notice the inventive ways that people in these neighbourhoods had taken gardening upon themselves. In Regent Park, inner courtyards are used to their fullest capabilities to grow vegetables and greens. In St. Jamestown, I often noticed balconies featuring lush greenery sticking out amongst the monotonous white high rises.

The fact that this whole aspect of Toronto’s identity was unknown and overlooked by me before is probably the greatest change that occurred in me over the summer. My mind opened up to a new method of living and a new understanding of how people in a dense urban setting are able to harness their surroundings and their resources in order to produce something sustainable. From now on, as I walk and bike through these communities, I will hold this knowledge with high regard, along with my respect for how much goes on in this city that you have to get close to, to see.

James Malekzadeh is a film student at Ryerson University.

August 8 Lush Walk in the Garden Event

This Saturday! Prizes and a draw for a pair of Keen Shoes…. come visit each garden for more chances to win. Meet at Sherbourne TTC Station at 10:30 am.

Summer reflections

By Marika MacLean

The children who came to Winchester Garden this past week have blown me away with their remarkable ability to absorb information and their willingness to learn.  A goal of mine working at Green Thumbs was to foster independence in these young children. They are at the age where they stop being spoon fed and the transition into this newfound independence can be challenging. Through this program, children learned to take initiative by understanding where food comes from and how to grow it on your own.

For each program, we had set up three stations: a storytelling and planting station, a five senses station, and an investigation station. For most of the week I ran the planting station but I had the chance to work at the other stations as well to see how children learn in different circumstances. Most of these kids had never planted anything before, but were very eager to learn.  I encouraged them to do each step independently but they often asked for my assistance. Over the week I acquired tricks to get them to do things on their own, such as glorifying the feat of autonomy so that each of them would be less reliant. At the end of the session I asked the children to summarize what plants needed to grow which I initially taught through reading a book called Michael’s Story. A few enthusiastic kids raised their hands and repeated the five components necessary to grow a plant: air, water, soil, sun, and space.

At the five senses station we went around the garden seeing, smelling, tasting, and touching plants. One kid had to check with me to see if the food was healthy before he ate it so that he would grow up strong. In my experience, the kids loved the taste of kale and currants and the smell of peppermint and rosemary. They stuck their hands out at me exclaiming, “More! More!” They were enthralled that a bush could hide so many bright red berries.

The children were incredibly engaged at the investigation station. One girl even said that she’d never seen a snail before! They spent ages studying the markings on a bee or counting the legs of a potato bug. They learned about the interconnectedness of all things and how tiny worms without any legs are capable of making soil for plants to grow.

As I taught the children, I began to learn from them. I discovered how effective the hands-on approach was for young children. I also saw how focusing on the children and their backgrounds in gardening was just as important as teaching them, because they might have something fascinating to share with the group. As I was presenting to them, I was just reciting information that I already knew, but this was all new to them so they welcomed it with unbiased minds. Their thoughtful inquiries motivated me to question things more deeply as well. A child’s mind is an ideal space to cultivate inspiring creative thoughts to look at the world differently. Gardening is a great way to encourage children to grow a better world.

Marika is a summer Garden Program Leader at Green Thumbs.  She is an Environmental Studies Major at York University and enjoys reading, writing poems, and painting.

 

Board Members Sought, Annual General Meeting June 25

Green Thumbs is in our 16th year of operation, and our 7th year since incorporating as a non-profit organization. Our Board of Directors, always an eclectic and fun bunch, completed strategic planning with volunteers and staff in 2014. We are looking for three new Board members. Please see the posting here.

Our Annual General Meeting will be on Thursday June 25, 5-7 pm, here at our new digs at the Centre for Social Innovation Regent Park (585 Dundas St. E., 3rd floor). Chimu Titi and Urban Roots Youth participants will be creating and serving a lovely light seasonal meal with many ingredients from our gardens. The theme is Hot Days… Cool Cuisine!

Chimu and the youth will prepare foods that in the Ayurvedic tradition are cooling, refreshing and support the body through the summer heat. Sweet Massaged Kale Salad with Sesame Dressing, Veggie Pasta with Basil Pesto, Vegan Bubble & Squeak potato pancakes, and BBQ tempeh are on the menu. To drink? Strawberry and mint lemonade with healthy sweeteners, and Lemon Cupcakes with Juneberry compote for dessert. You gotta come!

RSVP to Cassie Scott, info (at) kidsgrowing.ca, by June 18. The cost to join and vote is $15.00. Current members (joined since October 2014) can renew for $5.00.

Webinar – Innovative Ways to Fund Your School Garden Program

From our friends at EdWeb:

Join us for the next Growing School Gardens webinar!

Tuesday, May 19 at 4 p.m. Eastern Time
Innovative Ways to Fund Your School Garden Program
Presented by John Fisher, Director of Programs and Partnerships for Life Lab; with Kevin Hesser, Middle School Teacher and Co-Director of Gardens to Grow In

In This Session
There is no one way to fund a garden program – there are hundreds! In this webinar, Life Lab’s John Fisher and Gardens to Grow In’s Kevin Hesser will share a wide variety of ideas to finance your school garden program. From finding grants and supportive policy, to school garden micro-enterprise and farm-raisers, their discussion will provide funding ideas for all aspects of your school garden, including garden supplies and staffing school garden instructors. John and Kevin’s presentation will share examples of how they have funded the school garden programs that they run, along with insight from other successful garden programs. Topics will include:

• Tools for creating a garden budget
• Telling your story
• Garnering school or district support
• Cultivating donors
• Farm and garden based fundraisers
• Tips for finding grants
• Policy that supports school garden programs
• Innovative ways to fund a garden program

Join this live, interactive session to learn new ways to fund your new or existing school garden program. John and Kevin will field questions from attendees after their presentation.

To Participate in the Live Session

– This webinar will be recorded and archived in this community for viewing at anytime.

– As a member of the Growing School Gardens community, pre-registration is not required.

– Log in at www.instantpresenter.com/edwebnet11 at the scheduled time.

– Test your system for best quality: www.instantpresenter.com/systemtest

About the Presenters

John Fisher is the Director of Programs and Partnerships for Life Lab. Through his work at Life Lab, John provides training and support to thousands of garden educators across the nation. John is a co-founder of the California School Garden and National School Garden Networks. He coordinates the garden program at Pacific Elementary School in Davenport, California. Follow John on Twitter @lifelabtweets.

Kevin Hesser is a school teacher and garden coordinator in Calaveras Unified School District. He teaches art, gardening, and cooking at Toyon Middle School, and supports garden programs at several elementary schools and the high school farm. Kevin co-founded Gardens to Grow In, a 501(c)3 non-profit that supports and promotes healthy and sustainable lifestyles in Calaveras County schools and communities by teaching children and families how to grow and prepare healthy food through school and community garden based programs.

This program is co-hosted by the Edible Schoolyard Project, the National Farm to School Network, and Life Lab.

Visit our Google calendar to view all webinars this month.

Follow us on Twitter @edWebnet to learn about upcoming webinars and special events!

May 22, 2015 is School Garden Biodiversity Day

For the past 2 years, Imagine a Garden in Every School has celebrated School Garden Day on a Friday in May. This year, the date coincides with the World Biodiversity Day called by the United Nations.

We know that School Gardens represent Biodiversity by their very nature. Some grow food; some grow native wildflowers – but all engage children and youth with our real and changing world.

To highlight the convergence of food biodiversity in this year’s celebration, USC Canada has offered a free gift to the first 20 teachers/garden educators to register their school’s garden. All participants will receive a certificate. Here’s how to participate:

1. First register your Ontario school garden at http://bit.ly/1FNsSl2to qualify for a prize from USC Canada – Biodiverse & Beautiful Beans!

2. On Friday, May 22, hold an activity in or around/about your school garden. It can be simple or ambitious – it’s up to you! (Biodiversity!) Send pictures of your event to agardenineveryschool@gmail.com

3. The TOP SIX schools with the most student engagement in the garden on that day (percentage of school population, provide pictures) will receive a $75 gift certificate for Home Hardware (or local garden supply outlet), courtesy of the Biodiversity Education and Awareness Network!

We’ll feature all pictures and school gardens on our blog as we receive them.

NOTE: If you had registered before, review your profile here and resubmit for 2015.

Twitter: @GardInSchools

#SchoolGardenDay

#ilovemyschoolgarden

USC Seed Gift

http://bit.ly/1GMYB2a

@USCCanada

Biodiversity Education and Action Network

www.biodiversityeducation.ca = http://bit.ly/1OZ7LlT

Foodie alert: Saturday’s treats are gonna be good!

Mochi by @catertoronto (pictured)

Dips and crostinis, walnut brownies from @WestendFoodCoop

Savoury pastries and cookies from The Bus KItchen

healthy stuff from GTGK thanks to @the_bigcarrot & @fiestafarms with kitchen space thanks to @Paintbox_Bistro

Cookies, squares and loaf from Lemon and Allspice Bakery, a project of Common Ground Co-op @CGCCoop
Cookies from Alli’s

can’t wait! see you there… oh yes, and free door prizes to those who actually purchase advance tix! go to https://gtgk.eventbrite.ca/