CURRENT WORK
BRINGING SCHOOL GARDENS TO LIFE
We want to help schools build their vision. To do this, we approach school communities to ask what they envision for their school garden, brainstorm what that garden programming could be, and come up with ideas to implement through collaboration and partnership. This work includes giving supplies and materials, seedlings, seeds and compost to schools, which they can use to start gardens or plant their existing gardens. We’ve also taken abandoned school gardens and revamped them entirely, planting and getting them set up for the summer.
EDUCATION AND MAINTENANCE
Part of our work also involves coming into school classrooms to teach students how to start their own seeds. When we return to do community planting, each student gets to plant their own seedlings and the school community itself completes the season’s planting. In addition, we curate garden activities like bug releases, art projects, and more. During the summer, SustainEd Farms helps maintain gardens so they stay thriving and can turn into a learning space in the fall. This includes watering and taking care of the gardens, as well as harvesting any food to include in our farm shares with the community.
FARM SHARES AND FOOD JUSTICE
We want to ensure that every crop grown on our school gardens and farms makes its way into the hands of local Denver families. We do this in two ways: through our Farm Share program and through direct donations to food banks. Our Farm Share program is intentionally priced below market value and delivers fresh produce directly to residents’ doors weekly. Every week we also take at least 20 percent of our harvest and donate it directly to partner community food banks that distribute it to those in need for no cost!
