American Heart Association

Great Rivers Affiliate – Lancaster

2013-2014

Teaching Gardens Program Grant Application

Sponsored by:


Overview

The American Heart Association has established an aggressive health impact goal for the year 2020: to improve the cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20 percent while reducing deaths from cardiovascular diseases and stroke by 20 percent. To measure the success of the 2020 impact goal, AHA has created health impact measures for children over the age of two in the areas of: smoking, Body Mass Index (BMI), physical activity, diet score, total cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar. Specifically, to measure a healthy diet score AHA has identified five primary and 3 secondary measures to improve the heart health of the American diet. These measures include:

Primary

•Consuming ≥ 4.5 cups of fruits & vegetables per day

•Consuming ≥ two 3.5-oz. servings of fish (preferably oily fish) per week

•Consuming < 1500 mg of sodium per day

•Consuming ≤ 450 kcal (36 oz) of sweets/sugar sweetened beverages per week

•Consuming ≥ three 1-oz equivalent servings per day of whole grains

(≥1.1 g fiber / 10 gcarbohydrate)

Secondary

•Limit consumption of saturated fat to < 7% of total energy intake (kcal)

•Consuming ≥ 4 servings per week of nuts, seeds & legumes

•Limit consumption of processed meats to ≤ 2 servings per week

To achieve its 2020 goal, the American Heart Association is committed to facilitate a dramatic change in the way Americans eat and think about food. To accomplish this change, the American Heart Association has created theTeaching Gardensprogram to educate elementary students about the importance of fruits and vegetables, to energize and excite them about produce, and to introduce fresh produce into the diets of students and their families. Participating in the Teaching Gardensprogram gives schools access to a variety of resources and support to help achieve these goals. The American Heart Association is committed to facilitating your school’s efforts to develop and sustain this program over multiple years.

How Does Teaching Gardens Work?

American Heart Association Teaching Gardens teach children in first through fifth grades how to plant seeds, nurture growing plants, harvest produce and ultimately understand the value of good eating habits.Garden-themed lessons teach nutrition, math, science and other subjects – not to mention the fun of getting out in the fresh air and working with your hands. Throughout the program, students celebrate gardening milestones: planting day, harvesting and activities that involve the larger community. Of course, there are also plenty of healthy snacking opportunities.

Teaching Gardens are functional additions to schools. EachTeaching Garden can be as unique as the school community it serves. Whatever the size or location, every garden has the potential to become an integrated part of the community and serve as a tool to explore the world and its possibilities.Teaching Gardensprovide wonderful opportunities for team building, leadership development and the joy of learning.

Why School Gardening?

The program is designed to encourage healthy diets in young children and to help combat childhood obesity, which has reached epidemic proportions. Today, nearly one in three children

and adolescents in the U.S. is overweight or obese.American Heart AssociationTeaching Gardens make healthy foods fun, and they provide opportunities for children to try and enjoy healthy foods.

American Heart Association Qualifications

School administrators, teachers, parents and students can be assured a positive experience with the American Heart Association. The association offers credibility, scientific expertise and existing relationships across the country, including a nearly 40-year history as a leader in the fields of nutrition, physical activity and obesity prevention.

Teaching GardensProgram Support

The American Heart Association will provide the following support to participating schools:

  • A complimentary Teaching Garden kit which includes basic supplies and equipment to establish and maintain a Teaching Garden
  • Technical support and training to assist with establishing and maintaining the Teaching Garden
  • A cross-curricular, standards-based gardening and nutrition education curriculum
  • Signage to acknowledge donors that have provided funding for the Teaching Garden program

School Criteria

The American Heart Association requires any school submitting an application for a Teaching Gardento be able to meet the following criteria. The AHA has piloted Teaching Gardens in several schools and found that schools able and willing to meet these criteria are most successful with establishing, maintaining and sustaining a successful Teaching Garden program.

Administrative, Staff and Volunteer Support Requirements

  • Principal’ssupport of the program
  • Commitment to maintaining the Teaching Garden for at least two years
  • Designated school-level contactfor the program, such as a classroom teacher, faculty member or staff
  • Release forms distributedto and collected from all participating students
  • Provided gardening and nutrition curriculum integrated into a variety of the school’s subject area curriculums
  • Maintain required insurance coverage and provide AHA with proof of insurance
  • Recruit a volunteer committee of at least five individualssuch as parents, local garden club representatives, community volunteerleaders, PTA/PTO representatives, school board members
  • Partner with local businesses and organizations to establish volunteer opportunities and support the Teaching Garden through donations of good/services

Implementation and Space Requirements

  • Build and maintain a Teaching Garden with the help of parent volunteers and community organizations (see sample School Teaching Garden Map – Appendix 1)
  • Allocate appropriate space (250 to 700 square feet)
  • Locate garden within 100 feet of an external water source
  • Identify and secure ongoing support from volunteers and/or parents to agree to maintain the Teaching Garden during times when school is not in session
  • Adhere to the suggested timelines for ordering, planting and harvesting the garden (Teaching Garden Implementation Timeline – Appendix 2)
  • Commit to at least one Plant Day and one Harvest Day per school year
  • Display AHA-provided signage in the garden acknowledging the Teaching Garden sponsor

ReportingRequirments

  • Participate in evaluation activities and share program progress reports with the American Heart Association as requested
  • Share with the American Heart Association photos, video clips and success stories
  • Review and execute necessary documentation

How to Apply

Please complete the followingTeaching Gardens Program Grant Application. Be sure to provide allinformation requested. Incomplete applications will not be processed. If you have specific questions or need assistance, please contact:

Terry Kraft

Executive Director

(717) 207-4223

All completed applications are due by March 21, 2014. The successful applicant will be notified within one to two weeks from the time the application is submitted.

American Heart Association

Great Rivers Affiliate - Lancaster

Teaching Gardens Program Grant Application

Please complete all information.Incomplete applicationsmay be returned.

SECTION1 – SCHOOL INFORMATION

Date______

School Name______

Address______

City/State/Zip______

Name of Principal______

Name of School Contact______

Title______

Phone______Fax______

Email Address______

School Website______

Our school participates in the following AHA programs/events:

 Jump Rope for HeartHoops for Heart Go Red For Women

 CPR Anytime/Be the Beat Other ______

Our school would like more information about______

1)Why would your school like a Teaching Garden?

2)How does your school plan to sustain the Teaching Garden beyond the initial support provided by the American Heart Association?

SECTION2 – CURRICULUM INTEGRATION

  1. CATEGORY (Please check only one and write the number of students that will participate.)

SINGLE CLASS GARDEN (Garden used by one class only)

Number of students in class and grade ______

MULTIPLE CLASS GARDEN (Garden used by more than one class or grade, but not by entire school)

Number of students involved in the garden and grades______

ENTIRE SCHOOL GARDEN (Garden that is used by all grade levels at the school)

Number of students involved in the garden and grades______

  1. Please mark all the subject area(s) in which you plan to incorporate Teaching Gardens.(Check all that apply.)

 Math Science Social Studies History

Health/Nutrition Language Arts Music Physical Ed.

Environmental Ed. Other______

  1. Please indicate the percentage of time, on average, that you will use the garden as an instructional tool in your classroom(s):
  1. Please indicate the number of years you plan to use Teaching Gardens in your curriculum:______years
  1. Please share which other organizations your school is currently partnering with to provide an educational enrichment program?

SECTION 3 – SCHOOL &COMMUNITY SUPPORT

Teaching Garden School Champion

Name______

Phone______Email______

The Teaching Garden School Champion will serve as the primary coordinator for the garden at the school. This person probably will be a staff member at the school and will be responsible for leading/coordinating the activities of the Teaching Gardens Committee (as well as serving as the primary point of contact with the American Heart Association).

Teaching Garden Committee

The Teaching Garden Committee is made up of people from the school and community, including parents. The committee collaborates to identify concerns, set priorities and design solutions in regard to the health environment and opportunities to offer experiential, project-based learning in the school. The committee will act collectively to establish, maintain and integrate the Teaching Garden into the school community. Members might include representatives from the Parent Teacher Association/Organization, university students, high school students, Garden Club members, 4-H members, etc. Please indicate the names/titles/organizations and/or number of volunteers you have planned to help students in the Teaching Garden.

Number of volunteers______

NameTitleOrganization

______

______

______

______

______

______

______

______

______

______

______

SECTION 4 – LOCATION

The location of your garden will be critical to the overall success of the program.Please note that the Teaching Gardensare planted in multiple above-ground planter boxes that range from approximately 4x4x3 feet to 8x4x3 feet. Planter boxes are provided to each participating school. No digging on school grounds will be necessary. Your garden should be less than 100feet from a water faucet and will require about six full hours of sun each day. Slope and soil typeaffect drainage; avoid picking a location in a low spot where puddles may form.

  1. Please attach to this application a digital photo of proposed site locations on your school property. It is recommended that you identify at least three proposed sites for your garden. Label the photos in priority order (1, 2, 3, with 1 being your first choice) and indicate the size of each area.
  1. Have you tested the soil of the proposed Teaching Garden site?Yes No

Although most of the crops selected will not have a deep root system, it’s a good idea to test any site you are considering for lead contamination. Contact your county health department or cooperative extension office for information on testing. If your soil is toxic, it will be important to include bottoms for the garden boxes, so the toxins cannot leach into the garden soil.

  1. On what type of surface will your garden boxes sit?

grassdirtasphalt concrete

  1. Does your school have issues with animals in your proposed garden area? If so, what type of animals?

deer rabbits chipmunks moles  gophers  groundhogs  other______

  1. Does your school have special considerations or restrictions when making large deliveries (i.e. time of day, location, office phone number)? The garden soil will likely be delivered in a large truck, so please be as specific as possible with any special instructions for deliveries.

______

______

______

SECTION 5 – AUTHORIZATION

On behalf of ______(school name), we agree to fulfill the roles and responsibilities detailed above.

Principal Signature______

Principal Printed Name______

Principal Email______

Date______

Nothing in this Application Form shall be deemed to be a commitment by the American Heart Association or obligation of American Heart Association funds. The American Heart Association reserves the right to terminate this Agreement in its sole discretion in the event that it does not receive continued, sufficient external funding or for any additional reason as decided by AHA.

AHA Use (to be completed by the AHA Staff before turning in to the National Center)

Date Received: ______

Application Complete:Yes No

Reviewed by: ______

Funding:MHML ( circle one)  Part of PlatformIndividual MHML

 Other ______

 Restricted Unrestricted

Funder Name: ______

 New Renew

Dollar Amount Provided bythe Funder:______

Number of Plantings Outlined in the Agreement:______

Dollar Amount of Expenses: ______

Name of AHA Staff Responsible for Managing the Partnership with the Funder:

______

AHA Staff Responsible for the Teaching Garden Implementation:

______

Building a Sustainable Teaching Garden

Beyond the American Heart Association Funding Support

The AHA Teaching Gardens Program was developed to assist the AHA in meeting the 2020 Goals in relationship to children and cardiovascular disease and stroke. The role of the AHA in relation to Teaching Gardens is to introduce a comprehensive Teaching Gardens Program and lay the foundation for the long term success of the program beyond the AHA’s funding cycle for the program. There are two factors to be clear on from the beginning of the program. These are:

A. From Day One of the program when a school becomes an AHA Teaching Garden School it is important for the school to have a clear understanding of the funding period that the TG will have AHA funded support.

B. From Day One of the program AHA must partner with the school to assist the school in answering “How will we move forward to support this facet of the program when AHA funding is no longer in place?” By having this question ever present it will allow the school and AHA to build the long term sustainability plan.

The Components of Sustainability:

A. The Curriculum

B. The Tools and Planters

C. The Seeds and Seedlings

D. Ongoing Financial Support

Curriculum – AHA has provided access to a large approved list of curriculum providers. Each school is encouraged to use this menu from the beginning in concert with the AHA curriculum. These recommendations are in the Teaching Gardens Activation Kit on pages 95 - 96 under the Manual Tab.

Tools and Planters – from the beginning of the program the composition of the Teaching Garden Committee should include building relationships with:

  • Local Master Garden Clubs
  • University Agricultural Programs
  • Local Horticultural Providers
  • PTO/PTA
  • Local Garden Supply Retailers
  • 4-H

Seeds and Seedlings

AHA is fortunate to have a partnership in place with Bonnie Plants, the largest provider of seedlings in the United States. Bonnie Plants has agreed to provide seedlings to any Teaching Gardens that are initiated by AHA including through the AHA funding cycle.

Our schools are encouraged to work with local providers of seeds and to use the proceeds from their Farmer’s Market of their Teaching Garden to purchase seeds if necessary.