Transforming Urban Schools: How a Garden Project Cultivates Climate Literacy and Community

In a bustling urban landscape, where concrete and asphalt often dominate, a group of determined residents in Los Angeles' West Adams neighborhood embarked on a remarkable journey two decades ago. Their vision: to transform the 24th Street Elementary School into a verdant oasis of learning, where students could connect with nature, explore sustainable practices, and develop a deep understanding of climate change.

Cultivating Climate Literacy, One Garden at a Time

Reclaiming the Schoolyard

Twenty years ago, a group of West Adams residents and their friends had a bold idea: to break up the asphalt and cement at their neighborhood's 24th Street Elementary School and transform it into a thriving garden. This ambitious project, led by the Garden School Foundation, was a farsighted decision that has since blossomed into a vibrant outdoor learning center.

Integrating Climate Education

The 24th Street Elementary School garden, now spanning a lush acre, has become a hub for climate literacy education. With groves of shade trees, an orchard featuring a variety of fruits, and countless vegetable, herb, and flower beds, the garden serves as a living classroom for the school's 453 pre-kindergarten through fourth-grade students, 90% of whom are classified as low-income.

Empowering Teachers and Students

The Garden School Foundation has developed a comprehensive curriculum for outdoor learning, which is seamlessly integrated into the school's regular science lessons and other subjects, particularly language arts. This approach has empowered teachers, who often lack the training to effectively teach climate-related topics, to incorporate hands-on, experiential learning into their classrooms.

Fostering Sustainability Habits

The garden program at 24th Street Elementary School aims to cultivate lifelong sustainability habits in both students and their families. Last year, the school turned 16,000 pounds of cafeteria food waste into 1,600 pounds of compost, demonstrating the students' enthusiasm for the "ickiness" of composting and their desire to replicate these practices at home.

Recognizing Excellence

The school's commitment to environmental education and sustainability has been recognized with a prestigious California Green Ribbon School award, the only one in the Los Angeles Unified School District. This accolade highlights the school's efforts to reduce its environmental impact, improve the health and wellness of students and staff, and provide an effective climate education.

Overcoming Challenges

The close partnership between the Garden School Foundation and the school staff has been instrumental in the program's longevity, helping it navigate staff changes and budget constraints within the Los Angeles Unified School District. The foundation's ability to provide temporary replacements for garden teachers and maintain the gardens has been crucial to the program's success.

Expanding the Impact

The 24th Street Elementary School garden is just one of ten Los Angeles Title I schools supported by the Garden School Foundation. These schools, where at least 40% of enrolled students come from low-income families, are benefiting from the foundation's comprehensive approach to climate education and sustainable practices.By transforming a once-barren schoolyard into a thriving oasis of learning, the West Adams community has not only cultivated a deeper understanding of climate change but also fostered a sense of community, empowerment, and hope for a more sustainable future.