Mission
GrowingGreat is a non-profit garden and nutrition education organization dedicated to inspiring children and adults to adopt healthy eating habits through classroom nutrition lessons, school gardens and community events. Vision
To change the eating & nutrition habits of current and future generations of students, families and communities through innovative programs that affect real and lasting change in health, nutrition and sustainable farming. Our programs will utilize: - Education
- Practical applications
- Sustainable farming methods
- Awareness of ecology
Growing Healthier Communities Imagine a world where kids opt for seasonal fruit over a candy bar... a world where kids are empowered with the knowledge to choose high quality foods that enhance the way they think, feel and perform.
For the last ten years GrowingGreat, has been inspiring children and adults to adopt healthier eating habits. As a nonprofit school garden and nutrition education organization our vision is to encourage others to view food differently, to realize that food serves a purpose and impacts our overall health and wellbeing. Our philosophy is simple: eat a wide variety of colorful, whole foods that are close to their source and minimally processed.
GrowingGreat is getting kids excited about healthy eating. They dig in the dirt, taste delicious fresh foods and learn to make eating choices that will have lifelong health benefits. Using our comprehensive standard based curriculum, trained docents teach Classroom Nutrition Lessons (five 35-minute lessons for grades 3-5), School Garden Programs (lessons, plantings and harvest parties for both Fall and Spring planting seasons for grades K-5), and farm-to-school Harvest of the Month programs (free samples of fresh, local Farmers Market produce served in the cafeteria at lunch). To reinforce student learning, we also provide parent education workshops and take-home resources with each lesson. In additon we build partnerships with local farmers markets, businesses and nonprofits to support the adoption of healthy eating habits throughout the entire community.
GrowingGreat is a small organization making a large impact. In 1999, GrowingGreat started as a single demonstration garden in one elementary school in the Manhattan Beach Unified School District (MBUSD). Led by founders Marika Bergsund , Peggy Curry, and Lori Sherman, GrowingGreat has now reached over 28,000 kinder- 5th grade students and families throughout Los Angeles. We currently serve over 8,000 students in Los Angeles County, operating in 20 schools in 6 school districts. We train and manage over 150 volunteers a year to deliver our school programs and conduct large community awareness events. Our annual Healthy Living Festival attracted 4,000 attendants last year and is scheduled to take place May 16, 2010 in Manhattan Beach.
While school budgets are being slashed statewide and families on the financial edge, struggle to make difficult choices about feeding themselves, nutrition education is more important than ever. Poor nutrition is the primary cause of the obesity epidemic plaguing the nation and negatively affects mental health, academic performance and increases the risk of developing disease. Michelle Obama recently stated that for the first time in our nation’s history, our younger generation will have a shorter lifespan than their parents due to poor nutrition. Through nutrition education, GrowingGreat is working to change these statistics. Studies show that every dollar spent on nutrition education saves $4-8 in health care costs. To meet increasing demand over the next three years, we hope to raise funds and expand our programs locally and nationally by building our infrastructure and developing a web-based training and delivery model.
We can create a world where children and adults adopt healthier eating habits that positively impact the well-being of our communities. To help us plant seeds today to grow healthier communities tomorrow please visit www.growinggreat.org. Goals - Inspire children and adults to eat for better health.
- Create and implement nutrition education and school garden programs that encourage schools, families, civic leaders, community organizations and businesses to become leaders in promoting healthy food choices and lifestyles.
- Healthy Eating Philosophy
Eat a variety of whole foods that are close to the source. Eat “high quality” foods more often than “low quality” foods. Whenever possible, choose local, seasonal, organic and/or sustainably farmed foods. Appreciate the impact of food on your health and well being. Read our detailed Healthy Eating Philosophy: Download Healthy Eating Philosophy. |
