Years after former California Superintendent of Public Instruction Delaine Easton, who declared her intention to see a garden in every school, retired from state politics, efforts are continuing to make her vision a reality. And LA County UC Cooperative Extension's Common Ground Program is supporting the effort.
California Farmer magazine reported in its Oct. 11 issue on a recent school garden resource fair in Los Angeles; Common Ground was a sponsor. The story says LA Unified teachers will be receiving more than $1.7 million in grant funds to be used for supplies, professional development and technical assistance for school gardens at more than 500 sites this school year. The money comes from Assembly Bill 1535 (Nuñez), which authorized the California Department of Education to award $15 million in grants to promote, develop and sustain instructional school gardens.
