Our History
Our organization began in 2007 as the Growing West County School Gardens (GWCSG). We formed to address the concerns and needs that educators had in establishing and maintaining school garden programs in West Contra Costa County.
Who We Are
We are a network of over 6,000 members, comprised of teachers, community members, students, and school administrators who are working together to make school garden programs more successful and sustainable. During the 2017/2018 school year, we continued our partnership with the West Contra Costa Unified School District. The district supported our professional development workshop series. The greens crew helped us with maintenance in select gardens. We also worked with a couple of key foundations, and built our individual donor base so that we could fund the new 'Digging Deep' program, continue the Plant to Plate Internship Program as well as our Growing Strong Starts Greenhouse Program. We added a new school to our Mentorship Program. To date, we support 21 school gardens in the West Contra Costa Unified School District.
How We Work in 2018-19.
We are proud to be a project of Earth Island Institute
WC DIGS has benefitted from the fiscal sponsorship of Earth Island Institute (EII) for 5 years. While under their wing and 501(c)(3) status, DIGS has been able to receive tax-exempt donations from funders. Because of the EII top charity ratings, donors feel confident that their funds are secure and that our organization meets the highest standards. We have access to a dedicated project support team and skills training as well as administrative staff to handle finance, legal, tax and payroll duties. But best of all is being a part of the organizational home to more than 200 grassroots environmental action projects worldwide, where inspired leaders and environmental activists make positive changes to our increasingly fragile planet.
Our organization began in 2007 as the Growing West County School Gardens (GWCSG). We formed to address the concerns and needs that educators had in establishing and maintaining school garden programs in West Contra Costa County.
Who We Are
We are a network of over 6,000 members, comprised of teachers, community members, students, and school administrators who are working together to make school garden programs more successful and sustainable. During the 2017/2018 school year, we continued our partnership with the West Contra Costa Unified School District. The district supported our professional development workshop series. The greens crew helped us with maintenance in select gardens. We also worked with a couple of key foundations, and built our individual donor base so that we could fund the new 'Digging Deep' program, continue the Plant to Plate Internship Program as well as our Growing Strong Starts Greenhouse Program. We added a new school to our Mentorship Program. To date, we support 21 school gardens in the West Contra Costa Unified School District.
How We Work in 2018-19.
- In 2017-18 we raised over $145,000 from individual donations and foundation grants such as, Kaiser Permanente, The Miranda Lux Foundation, Clif Bar Family Foundation, The Dean Witter Foundation, the office of the Contra Costa County District Supervisors and Recreation and Parks Department and West Contra Costa Unified School District. Our fundraising efforts for 2018-19 have been successful with earning 2 municipal grants from the City of Richmond and the City of San Pablo. These grants will support the Lincoln Peace Garden Program and the Dover Health and Wellness Initiative to Fight Obesity Program.
- We will conduct 4 Professional Development Workshops and 6 mini workshops to teach healthy nutrition to educators, and supply classrooms with vetted garden-based curriculum.
- Our Greenhouse Program will supply over 20 school gardens with plant starts.
- Mira Vista Elementary's pilot 'Model School Garden and Nutrition Program' is in it's third year and serves 20 teachers, the full student body of 560 and their families. Mira Vista maintains 2 large gardens and 5 raised beds outside of classroom windows. Infrastructure improvements include a sturdy garden shed, large greenhouse, and an outdoor kitchen.
- We collaborate with PTA’s, service clubs, businesses, community leaders and individual donors to maximize resources for school gardens.
- We routinely update members on the latest in grants, workshops, and networking opportunities through social media, emails and quarterly newsletters.
We are proud to be a project of Earth Island Institute
WC DIGS has benefitted from the fiscal sponsorship of Earth Island Institute (EII) for 5 years. While under their wing and 501(c)(3) status, DIGS has been able to receive tax-exempt donations from funders. Because of the EII top charity ratings, donors feel confident that their funds are secure and that our organization meets the highest standards. We have access to a dedicated project support team and skills training as well as administrative staff to handle finance, legal, tax and payroll duties. But best of all is being a part of the organizational home to more than 200 grassroots environmental action projects worldwide, where inspired leaders and environmental activists make positive changes to our increasingly fragile planet.
