News

New Gardens

Pinehurst Elementary School in North Charleston is the newest school garden for the Children's Garden Project. We're proud that WCBD-TV Charleston News2 reporters came and did a Story on Pinehurst Elementary School about the most current happenings in the ways we are changing how we feed our children.

We'd also like to welcome the children and faculty of Angel Oak Elementary School on Johns Island to the Garden Project.

Murray Lasaine Elementary School "Dig In".

"Dig In"
at Murray-Lasaine
Elementary School

Let us 'DIG IN' to the food and 'DIG IN' to the soil!...together! When the Charleston Area Children's Garden Project commits to a school, the relationship is for 3 years (6 semesters). The tools, soil, vegetables, fruits, habitats, cooking, education and everything that goes along with teaching health & nutrition and the science/math behind it through a school garden are offered to students, teachers, principal, parents, & staff. At the end of this 3 years, the gardens and academics surrounding them should be well established. Our Executive Director commits to another year of consultative support. As a 'kick off' for this new 'sustainable' school, with the commitment of the teachers and principal, an event called a 'dig in' is put together, bringing a group of volunteers to the school on a Saturday to work with the school personnel. After a summer of not tending the garden, and all the responsibilities a new school year brings to the teachers and staff, the school garden can look overwhelming. But everyone knows that 'teamwork' can alleviate that daunting feeling, and bring the community together working shoulder to shoulder culminating in sharing a wholesome meal together. This is what took place last Saturday, October 1, at Murray-LaSaine Elementary School on James Island. The volunteers were a group of students from the Bonner Leadership Program from the College of Charleston. Their participation was much appreciated.

More photos of the event are on our Murray LaSaine Elementary School garden webpage.

MUSC Dietetic Intern Program participated in the Charleston Area Children's Garden Project by teaching inner-city elementary school children the benefits of good health and nutrition through garden activities.

Partnership With MUSC Dietetic Intern Program

The Charleston Area Children’s Garden Project collaborated with MUSC’s Dietetic Internship Program (DIP) in the Spring semester of 2011. This program prepares interns to become Registered Dietitians. DIP’s mission is to prepare entry-level dietitians by providing a variety of research-driven clinical, food service, and public health nutrition experiences to interns from diverse backgrounds while serving the community. Its program goals include preparing graduates with the knowledge and skills to be competent entry-level dietitians and strengthening the dietetics workforce, particularly in South Carolina. The focus is on Clinical Medical Nutrition Therapy, but also features experiences in both traditional venues (i.e. foodservice, management and community) and non-traditional venues (i.e. culinary, research, wellness). From February through May, two DIP interns participated in a school garden session every two weeks. They communicated and interacted with the students; talking about nutrition, what kinds of foods the children eat at home, making healthy food choices, and cooking from the garden. Using the garden as the venue, the interns observed the health, behavior, and attitudes of a population of children that they most likely will be serving in their future dietitian careers.

Learn more about MUSC's Dietetic Intern Program.

Their Newsletter can be found here: DIP Newsletter

5% Day at Whole Foods Market in
Mt. Pleasant

The Charleston Area Children’s Garden Project was selected by Whole Foods Market in Mt. Pleasant, SC as the beneficiary of its 5% Day. Four times a year, Whole Foods of Mt. Pleasant donates 5% of the day’s net sales to a selected local charity, and on Tuesday, January 11, 2011 the Children’s Garden Project was the featured non-profit organization. The Charleston Area Children’s Garden Project staffed an information table inside the store from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. and displayed bird habitats and a worm bin created by the students. Children’s Garden Project volunteers exhibited a sample of a school garden harvest and presented a computer carousel of photos exhibiting students building, planting, nurturing, harvesting, and cooking from their school gardens. The Children’s Garden Project received $4,585 from the 5% Day to help strengthen the prevention of childhood obesity, diabetes, and hunger by assisting youth with the building and planting of gardens in neighborhoods where problems such as drugs, crime, poor health, and financial hardship are part of everyday life.

Learn more about Whole Foods Market's Community Giving Program on their website.

Here's our Press Release. (PDF- format)

Fund Raiser

The Charleston Area Children's Garden Project is now selling beautiful 100% organic cotton long sleeve tees.

The price for each is - $20.

These tees were designed and screen printed by local businesses:

Alumnot Graphics of North Charleston (screen print)
http://www.alumnot.com/
843-200-3766

Trio-Solutions, Inc of Mt Pleasant (design)
http://www.trio-solutions.com
843-216-0442

You can pick up shirts at any scheduled garden session or event for $20 each, or
we can deliver them to you by mail. There will be an additional $3.00 shipping fee.

Contact: Darlena Goodwin at dgoodwi@clemson.edu

Be Local: Growing New Farmers Incubator Pilot with Lowcountry Local First

As the Executive Director of the Children's Garden Project, I look at this venture as a pathway to change the way we think about feeding our future. Inherent in this dilemma is the million dollar question everyone around the country is trying to figure out - how to make sure the small farmers can make it, and afford to sell food to a community who needs it most. The CGP is a strong proponent of bringing the local farmer to the school. We are working with Lowcountry Local First on its 'Growing New Farmers Incubator Pilot'. Once again, it is another step in the right direction for our children. Both Sidi Limehouse and Joe Fields are committed to this pilot, as am I. In alignment with this program, the Children' Garden Project, along with Joe Fields Farm is working with Mt. Zion Elementary School to begin a mini farmer's market at the school site.

Please read about this bold and exciting enterprise for the Lowcountry by following this link:

Calendar of Events

Events of 2010

Earth Fare Healthy Supermarket Charleston, SC
January through March of 2010
Friend of Earth Fare
March 13th, from 11AM – 3PM
Fundraiser/Workshop

The Charleston Area Children's Garden Project has become the 'Friend of Earth Fare' for January through March of 2010. Earth Fare Healthy Supermarket of Charleston, SC is donating 5 cents to the garden project for every recycled bag used by a customer that comes through the cashier line for three months. In addition to this, Earth Fare is sponsoring a fundraiser on March 13th, from 11AM – 3PM. This will be a workshop creating birdbaths from terracotta pots. Children and families will work together and take home the result of their creativity. Also, once a month, throughout 2010, Earth Fare will go to a CACGP garden site (school, orphanage, housing project,etc) and bring with them an array of foods to share with the children of the garden. EarthFare will teach the children how to prepare a healthy snack while educating them on the nutrition value. Please sign up for the March workshop at Earth Fare by contacting John at 843-769-4800 or chs200community@earthfare.com (the cost is $20 per family) or contact me at dgoodwi@clemson.org if you would like to volunteer.

Lowcountry Highrollers
March 20, 2010

The Lowcountry Highrollers are sponsoring a fundraiser for the CACGP on March 20, 2010 at Citadel McAllister Field House, Charleston, SC. WOW! This should be fun! The games will be at 4:30PM and 6:30PM, with an intermission and a raffle. CACGP will sell their long sleeve tees for $20. Bring your friends – this is better than the Charleston Stingrays!
http://www.lowcountryhighrollers.com/

See a description of our new tee-shirts at the top of this page under Fund Raiser.

Kiawah Island's Earth Week
Sunday, April 18 - 24, 2010
Kiawah Island
(Link to the Festival)

Last year, the Charleston Area Children's Garden Project displayed the children's recycled garden hard scape at both Park Circle in North Charleston and Night Heron Park on Kiawah Island. We displayed a hand-made compost bin from recycled palettes, a raised bed built from discarded recycled construction lumber and paint, a worm habitat using recycled newspaper, and rich nutrient-filled organic composted material made from recycled food scraps, leaves, grass clippings, worm castings, wood ash, and dead plants. With this, participants viewed the results in the form of colorful and edible flowers, vegetables, and herbs. In 2010, we shall do something different in celebration of mother earth. We will join with Kiawah Nature Center for a week long earth week, Sunday through Saturday, APRIL 18th – 24th. On Sunday, April 18th, a volunteer day is offered through the CACGP. It will take place in the children's garden at Mt Zion Elementary School on Johns Island. All tools, gloves, materials, and water will be provided. Bring your own snacks.

There is a gallery of photos from last years' Earthday a little farther down this page.

Trident United Way Youth Service Day
April 23 - 25, 2010
In 2009, the Charleston Area Children's Garden Project worked with our volunteer youth from Trident United Way at Gadsden Green Housing Authority on Charleston Peninsula. Please join us in 2010 and be part of the single largest event where youth of all ages are making a difference all over the world.

Millions of children and youth from 115 countries address unmet needs in their communities. Agencies and community organizations are preparing projects. Young people are spreading the word about the event and recruiting teams from their schools, clubs, etc. Everyone is excited about the Lowcountry's 10th annual Tricounty Youth Service Day (TYSD). The event will be celebrated all over the Tricounty area in April 2010, with a kickoff rally at North Charleston High School for those who want to attend. Don't be left out of the fun. There's always a lot of work to do.

Links:
         Trident United Way Youth Service Day
         Global Youth Services Day 2010

Events of 2009

Charleston County Earthday Festival
April 18, 2009
Park Circle, North Charleston

Kiawah Island's Earthday "Greenival'
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Night Heron Park, Kiawah Island

Photos from Earthday 2009

Photos from Youth Services Day 2009

Events of 2008

Charleston Garden Festival 2008
at Middleton Place

We were excited to be working with Executive Director Helen Rutledge Wiley on a Garden Project documentary to be showcased at the upcoming Middleton Place Garden Festival. The documentary was presented during the Opening Night Kick-off, October 16, 2008 at the Edmondston-Alston House on the Battery.

Dear Darlena,

Middleton Place Foundation is honored to have you as a Partner for the 2008 Charleston Garden Festival, October 16-19, 2008. We have already started building the gardens and the buzz around this year's event is very exciting. We are so happy that you are going to be a part of the festival this year. The Children's Garden Project Documentary Tent you will find located on the map marked photography. The volunteers on this project have done an outstanding job showcasing your mission. We welcome your volunteers to come with the kids and talk to our guests about your organization. The photographs from the documentary will also be included in a photo montage at the "Night of A Thousand Butterflies" kick off party on October 16 at the historic Edmonston-Alston House.

Photos from the Festival

The Unforgettable Edible Schoolyard Photo Tour

A life affirming and a joyous celebration of the power of change through gardening. Come see first hand the dramatic effects growing food and plants can have on children and families. See these beautiful outdoor classrooms in the midst of bleak landscapes create thoughtful and intelligent children. The Charleston Area Children's Garden Project will inspire you to think differently about the way we teach and feed our future.

Photographer Leigh Webber has been working with us at three of our gardens to document the progress our children have been making this year.

Photos from the Children's Gardens ~ Leigh Webber