Earth Day Network is helping to coordinate D.C. Schoolyard Greening’s D.C. School Garden Week - October 5th – 11th – involving several events, demonstrations, and workshops going on all around the city! Throughout the week, participants will celebrate the success of many D.C. schools’ gardens, learn how to create one at their school, or otherwise be involved in the exciting school garden movement.

Gardening is becoming more integrated into schools nowadays, and it brings a wealth of benefits. As obesity, ADHD, and depression among increasingly younger kids is on the rise, more schools are finding ways of integrating active outdoor and hands-on education into their curricula. Gardening classes or garden-related activities in schools are engaging hands-on methods of teach children about not only agriculture and science, but their health too – encouraging them to eat better and make healthier decisions. Visit the Recreation pages of Earth Day Network’s Green Your School Guide for tips, lessons and information about implementing and using gardens, greenhouses, outdoor classrooms and healthy playspaces at schools.

From the organic vegetable garden on the front lawn of the White House to Chef Alice Waters’ fantastic 12-year-old Edible Schoolyard in Berkeley, CA, food gardens have recently been generating buzz and featured as success stories across the country. Parade magazine just released a report on school gardens, mentioning and addressing some of the challenges faced in getting gardens started at schools.

To learn more about the exciting events and workshops in D.C. during School Garden Week, including a bike tour, film screening, and much more, visit the D.C. Schoolyard Greening site which also contains great information and resources for school gardening.