Washburn Farm to School Program

BWB is partnering with the Washburn Farm to School Program to provide a storage facility for their ever growing garden.  $500 of community money will be used to purchase the straw bales needed to construct a 'green design' garden shed.

Contact: amorin.mello@gmail.com

This civic project is seeking funding to build a garden shed with an 8’x12’ storage space at the elementary/middle school garden in Washburn, Wisconsin.  The school garden has a growing area of 40’x80’ and offers a majestic view overlooking Washburn and Chequamegon Bay of Lake Superior.  AmeriCorps VISTA volunteers and school administrators developed the school garden and Washburn Farm to School program.  The school garden is generally grown and cared for by families of students and community members.  The resulting produce is integrated into nutritional education programs as well as supplying fresh local foods for health school meals and snacks.  The entire district has recently been recognized in a joint program of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Public Instruction as a “Green and Healthy” school district.

43% of Washburn students qualify for free and reduced school meals.  In 2009 the Washburn school garden will double in size to increase supplies for healthy school meals and snacks in order to raise local food security.  Currently there is no storage space currently located near the garden; having a secure year-round garden shed on-site is needed for accommodating the increasing traffic and demands of the growing garden programs.