ND Department of Agriculture Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE APRIL 22, 2008

TWO HIGH SCHOOLS RECEIVE GARDEN GRANTS

BISMARCK – Two North Dakota high schools have received Green and Growing School Initiative grants to develop or expand their school garden projects and to integrate gardening activities into classroom lessons and promote better nutrition.

“Bowman County High School in Bowman and South Heart High School will each receive $1,000 for their garden programs,” said Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson.

Marcus Lewton, the FFA advisor for the South Heart School District, said the school will use the money to purchase seeds, compost, trees, fencing and materials to plant a garden and build an outdoor classroom on the school grounds.

Bowman County students will plant vegetables in their school greenhouse and then work with Yesterday’s Farmers, a local farmers market group that also conducts antique equipment demonstrations and a threshing bee. Mary Fischer, Bowman County High School FFA advisor, says her students will grow seedlings for Yesterday’s Farmers and will help plant and harvest them.

Johnson said funding for the grant came from a federal specialty crop grant, passed through the North Dakota Department of Agriculture (NDDA) and then the North Dakota Farmers Market and Growers Association (NDFMGA).

Now in its third year, the Green and Growing Initiative is a joint effort of NDDA, NDFMGA, the North Dakota State University Extension Service, the North Dakota Department of Health, the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction, North Dakota Career and Technical Education and North Dakota 5+5 Communities.

Program goals include educating students on the connection of people, plants and the planet; increasing community engagement; providing service learning opportunities; helping students gain better nutritional habits; providing marketing opportunities for students; introducing and/or integrating food safety into the curriculum; and providing students with an opportunity to grow some of their food.

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MEDIA: For more information, please call Ted Quanrud at (701) 328-2233 or tquanrud@nd.gov or Patrice Lahlum at (701) 239-7210 or plahlum@nd.gov.