The school district maintenance staff (the people who help to maintain the buildings so they are safe and in good working order) consider gardens to be solely a PAC responsibility. More parents have expressed interest in the garden and there was a successful garden work party this past fall, such as to clean up the garden shed. There is a current recognition that fostering a food culture is a slow process (similar to the principles of permaculture).

One idea is to find a way to hire a garden coordinator, either as a paid position or with some sort of stipend/honorarium. This person would coordinate between teachers, parents and the PAC, facilitate visioning, fund raising for garden materials/upkeep, initiate partnerships with community organizations, etc.

INSIGHTS