West County DIGS
Developing Instructional Gardens in Schools
Our Mission:
We support school gardens in West Contra Costa County by providing resources, advocacy, and partnerships. We build our community's resilience by cultivating wellness, academic achievement, and sustainable practices.
January 2015 Update:
Our local school gardens have been written up in the Journal of Education. The article discusses how school gardens promote healthier eating habits, environmental awareness and provide fertile soil for both local and global community building. DIGS, Project Coordinator, Molly Wahl of Madera School is quoted throughout the article.
Our local school gardens have been written up in the Journal of Education. The article discusses how school gardens promote healthier eating habits, environmental awareness and provide fertile soil for both local and global community building. DIGS, Project Coordinator, Molly Wahl of Madera School is quoted throughout the article.
| journal_of_education_school_garden_article_vol_194.3.pdf |
West County DIGS has been endorsed by the following people and organizations:
Tony Thurmand, State Assemblymember, 15th District
John Gioia, Supervisor, Contra Costa County
Tom Butte, Mayor, Richmond
Gayle McLaughlin, City Council member, Richmond
Genoveva Calloway, City Council member, City of San Pablo
Randy Enos, School Board Member, WCCUSD
Todd Groves, School Board Member, WCCUSD
Dr. Miguel Altieri, UC Berkeley, Dept. of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, Urban Agriculture
Sibella Kraus, President and Founder, Sustainable Agriculture Education (SAGE)
Linda Hunter, Executive Director, The Watershed Project
Michael Flynn, Director, Common Vision
Tina Neuhausel, President and Founder, Sustainable Contra Costa
Emma Connery, Program Coordinator, West Contra Costa Master Gardener Program
Park Guthrie, Garden Education Specialist, OUSD
Mike Parker, Steering Committee Member, Richmond Progressive Alliance
Marisa Neelon, M.S., R.D., Nutrition, Family & Consumer Sciences Advisor, UC Cooperative Extension
Ruby Gonzalez, Principal of Ellerhorst Elementary, WCCUSD
Alison Makela, Principal of Madera Elementary, WCCUSD
Jeff Ritterman M.D., Vice President, Board of Directors for SF Physicians for Social Responsibility
Richard Boyd, Organizer, CCISCO
Tony Thurmand, State Assemblymember, 15th District
John Gioia, Supervisor, Contra Costa County
Tom Butte, Mayor, Richmond
Gayle McLaughlin, City Council member, Richmond
Genoveva Calloway, City Council member, City of San Pablo
Randy Enos, School Board Member, WCCUSD
Todd Groves, School Board Member, WCCUSD
Dr. Miguel Altieri, UC Berkeley, Dept. of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, Urban Agriculture
Sibella Kraus, President and Founder, Sustainable Agriculture Education (SAGE)
Linda Hunter, Executive Director, The Watershed Project
Michael Flynn, Director, Common Vision
Tina Neuhausel, President and Founder, Sustainable Contra Costa
Emma Connery, Program Coordinator, West Contra Costa Master Gardener Program
Park Guthrie, Garden Education Specialist, OUSD
Mike Parker, Steering Committee Member, Richmond Progressive Alliance
Marisa Neelon, M.S., R.D., Nutrition, Family & Consumer Sciences Advisor, UC Cooperative Extension
Ruby Gonzalez, Principal of Ellerhorst Elementary, WCCUSD
Alison Makela, Principal of Madera Elementary, WCCUSD
Jeff Ritterman M.D., Vice President, Board of Directors for SF Physicians for Social Responsibility
Richard Boyd, Organizer, CCISCO
"An introduction to gardening at school helps grow responsible, environmentally-aware citizens!"
~Linda Hunter, Executive Director of The Watershed Project
"There is considerable evidence that young people benefit in many ways by spending time working and learning in a garden environment."
~Tina Neuhausel, President and Founder of Sustainable Contra Costa
"By providing young people the direct experience of playing with, studying, and managing the natural cycles and resources that sustain us all, West County DIGS helps our next generation develop the perceptual filters, aptitude, interest, wisdom, and values that will empower them to become scientists, eco-entrepreneurs, leaders, and active, informed citizens who will realize the dream of a more healthy, sustainable, and just socio-ecosystem."
~Park Guthrie, Garden Education Specialist, OUSD
