BUSD’s Cooking and Gardening Programs To Lose Funding

The nationally acknowledged garden and kitchen programs of Berkeley’s public schools are once again on the chopping block. Unlike last year, the Berkeley Unified School District (BUSD) does not anticipate that any last–minute funding will come through. Four of the district’s nineteen Network for a Healthy California garden and kitchen programs have been federally funded by the United States Department of Agriculture for over a decade, while four other schools rely on Parent Teacher Association donations, as they do not qualify for the federal funds that are directed toward low–income communities. The King Middle School garden and kitchen are funded by the Edible Schoolyard Project.

In 2010, the Healthy Hunger–Free Kids Act completely changed standards for programs receiving government backing. This act allowed funds to be spread out more equally across the nation, with a focus on low–income regions. While there was a significant drop in the amount of federal money sent to the BUSD, funds will now be directed to health organizations, rather than schools’ nutrition programs.

Last year, only three schools were in danger of losing funding for cooking and gardening programs, and at the last minute a year–long extension of federal funds arrived in the nick of time.

This year, the districts face more daunting losses of $1.9 million of federal funding that could leave fourteen schools with diminished garden and cooking programs.

“Berkeley has created a wonderful nutrition education program throughout much of the district with the funding from the Network for a Healthy California,” said Leah Sokolofski, BUSD’s kitchen and garden program supervisor. “After over a decade of this funding, it is challenging to imagine many schools without a cooking or garden program.”

These hands–on programs work to educate young people by teaching healthy and sustainable eating and living.

Students learn the importance of eating seasonal fruits and vegetables by growing, harvesting, and cooking their own food.
According to Adam Edell, Garden Coordinator at BHS, students start to think of themselves as very resourceful as a result of their ability to cook meals.

“After introducing the much–maligned brussels sprouts in a delicious recipe a few weeks ago, many students keep asking me when will we have them again,” said Edell. “I consider that a big win.”

The Network for a Healthy California also promotes school–wide events to educate students and their families about events such as harvest fairs and family nutrition classes.

“Students from pre–K through high school have regular opportunities to learn about nutrition and how to make healthy choices in the cafeteria, after school, and at home,” said Sokolofski.

Beginning on October 1, 2013, cooking and gardening funding will be severely cut for BHS, Berkeley Technology Academy, middle schools Longfellow and Willard as well as elementary schools LeConte, Rosa Parks, Washington, Emerson, John Muir, Malcolm X, and Thousand Oaks.

“Cooking and gardening has been so integral into BUSD elementary and middle schools that it’s hard to imagine schools without them,” said Edell. “In people’s minds, Berkeley has been in the national spotlight as being synonymous with nutrition education for many years.”

What is the next step that BUSD and fundraisers will take?

“We certainly hope there is a future for districtwide cooking and garden programming in the Berkeley schools,” said Sokolofski. “Melanie [Parker, a committee member fundraising for the program] and others are busy writing grants and trying to find alternative funding to keep programs going.”

As a result of numerous School Board meetings relating to the lack of funding, the Superintendent’s Advisory Committee (SAC) was created.

This group of garden teachers, chefs, teachers, parents, and district administrators “is now the driving force in fundraising for the Cooking and Gardening Program,” according to Edell.

The committee is currently applying for government grants through both the Department of Agriculture and the California Department for Food and Agriculture.

Its goal is to get a grant large enough to be able to keep all staff in the programs hired part–time, so that gardens can at least stay alive and healthy. The committee hopes that the district will be able to come through with some funds as well as donations from BUSD families.

A Facebook page was created by the Berkeley School Gardening and Cooking Alliance to alert and educate the Berkeley community about the dire situation the gardening and cooking programs are in. The group and the SAC both encourage all of Berkeley’s concerned citizens to write letters to the district, become donors, and sign petitions to show support.
On May 30, families are urged to participate in a fundraiser by dining out at various supporting restaurants in the Berkeley area.

There are many ways for concerned citizens to help raise awareness as well as funds for the failing garden and cooking programs.

“While it is unfortunate that we are no longer eligible for this funding,” said Edell, “it creates enormous opportunity for citizens of Berkeley to show their support for nutrition education in schools, to really ask themselves what it is worth to have our children grow up with this curriculum from kindergarten to high school.”