ANDOVER SCHOOL AWARDED NEW GARDEN GRANT

Andover students enjoy hands on learning
experiences outside the classroom

ANDOVER, NEW YORK - Andover Central School celebrates their $2,000 grant award from the Whole Kids Foundation for their school garden. Zach Owen, who teaches the Environmental Technology class for junior and senior students at Andover, partnered with Cassandra Bull, Farm to School Coordinator at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Allegany County, to write this grant proposal. The students who maintain the garden had direct participation and gave input during the application process. "We played with the idea of introducing the students in the Environmental Technology course to grant writing as a learning experience and inside look at the nonprofit world. They are outstanding students that greatly exceeded our expectations, and I'm so thrilled that we could work together to help support all of their hard work", states Bull.

Since 2015, when the garden was founded, Mr. Owen's students have constructed and maintained a small high tunnel, raised beds, and a chicken coop in their courtyard. The students and staff involved in the garden strive to diversify their operation and introduce students to a wide variety of agricultural technology. This grant funds the planting of fruit trees and bushes, and the procurement of drip irrigation, composting tools, cold frames, harvesting tools, tomato stakes, and seeding equipment. This grant will help Andover students compost cafeteria food waste, implement new season extension techniques, and be able to grow more varieties of fruits and vegetables in their courtyard garden.  

The Whole Kids Foundation is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to helping kids eat better. They were founded by Whole Foods Market and are guided by the same values, principles, expertise and standards for quality ingredients, food production methods and nutrition. The Whole Kids Foundation supports schools and inspires families to improve children’s nutrition and wellness. Given the right opportunities, kids will get excited about fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains and other nutritious whole foods. Their commitment to helping school and community gardens is unparalleled, and this philanthropy will leave a long lasting positive impact on Andover Central School and their students.