Home / Conservation / Garden in Every School 2008/2009

Garden Funding Program Purpose: To educate elementary school-age children and their families, school staff, and other community members about wise water usage through the establishment of thematic school gardens that feature drought tolerant plants and efficient irrigation methods and that are coordinated with provision state-aligned curriculum materials. Examples of themes that schools can develop include:

  • California Friendly® Plants Garden
  • California Timeline Gardens featuring the region’s history
  • Birds and Butterfly Garden
  • Healthy Communities-Vegetable Garden
  • Literacy Garden-Peter Rabbit and Shakespeare

Garden Funding Program Elements: Schools participating in the garden funding program will receive the following:

  • Assistance in the establishment of a thematic garden, including site selection, irrigation installation, design and installation of the garden, resources for teachers and parents on the use of the state-aligned curriculum materials promoting wise water use, and coordination of a garden dedication event;
  • Funding of drought-tolerant plants, vegetables, garden tools, irrigation equipment and state-aligned curriculum materials valued up to approximately $4,500 including*
  • The opportunity to participate in a workshop designed for past and future participating schools, their teachers, parents and volunteers to share and learn about garden-based instruction that is aligned with the State Content Standards.
  • The opportunity to participate in a landscape irrigation audit program this fall that will provide each school with information and additional grant opportunities for conserving water and developing cost-effective landscaping.
    Garden in Every School® Workbook

Past Participating Schools:

  • 2004/2005 - Alta Loma Elementary School-Rancho Cucamonga, Butterfield Ranch Elementary School-Chino Hills, Euclid Elementary School-Ontario, Grant Elementary School-Fontana, Lehigh Elementary School-Montclair, Magnolia Elementary School-Upland, and Rhodes Elementary School-Chino
  • 2005/2006 - Coyote Canyon Elementary School-Rancho Cucamonga, Foothill Knolls Elementary School-Upland, Hidden Trails Elementary School-Chino Hills, Newman Elementary School-Chino, North Tamarind Elementary School-Fontana, Ranch View Elementary School-Ontario

Sponsors: Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA) and the Regional Conservation Partnership, comprised of your local water providers, including the Cities of Chino, Chino Hills, Ontario, Upland, Cucamonga Valley Water District (City of Rancho Cucamonga), Monte Vista Water District (City of Montclair), Fontana Water Company and San Antonio Water Company (City of Upland). The mission of IEUA is to supply imported and recycled water, collect, treat and dispose of wastewater and provide other utility-related (renewable electrical energy, compost) services to the communities it serves in a regionally planned, managed and cost-effective manner. In partnership with its retail agencies, IEUA strives to enhance the quality of life in the Inland Empire by providing the management for the area’s customers while promoting conservation and environmental protection.

Resources: IEUA and the Regional Conservation Partnership will award up to seven schools funding for the garden program in early September, 2006. Awarded schools that meet the eligibility requirements will receive up to $4,500*.

Every year IEUA and its Regional Conservation Partnership host a workshop to highlight participants from past year’s programs, explain the alignment of garden based learning with the State Content Standards and review the program application process. The workshop occured on Saturday September 22, 2007 from 8:30am — 12:00pm at Liberty Elementary School. Below are the presentations given by IEUA staff, North Tamarind, and Poplar Elementary.

  • IEUA Presentation
  • North Tamarind Presentation
  • Poplar Elementary Presentation
  • Helpful Resources

Garden Program Eligibility: Public and private elementary schools in the IEUA and its retail agencies’ service area are eligible to apply for the school garden funding program, providing the following:

  • The school must have irrigation accessibility within 20 feet of their proposed garden site.
  • The proposed site may not be larger than 2,000 square feet**.
  • An eligible school will be committed to sustaining the garden and using it for curriculum connections in years to follow.
  • The garden funding program requires the commitment of the principal, a lead teacher, a lead parent and coordination with the maintenance/facility manager to ensure the garden will sustain.
  • The school must commit to hands on participation by teachers, parents and students on specified planting and garden work days.
    In accepting this funding, the school also agrees to provide a summary and evaluation of the project when complete, describing how the teachers used the landscape for garden-based education, including smart water usage.
  • Schools must participate in a garden dedication ceremony in the spring for the students, school staff, parents, and community members, including partnering agencies, program sponsors and the media.
  • All funding items become the property of the school.
  • Garden in Every School® 2008-2009 Application