Their innovative work earned the attention of the National Gardening Association, who recently wrote to say,
"The POLAHS Garden Program has been selected from over 1,200 inspiring kids gardening programs from all across the country as a winner of the 2011 Youth Garden Grant! The 100 winning programs represent an impressive array of horticulture and cultural diversity. POLAHS has been selected as one of the $1,000 grant winners because the application illustrated a high level of commitment to youth gardening. The combination of clearly stated goals, curricular connections, and careful planning that was exemplified in the application shows us that POLAHS' program is not only well-maintained, but is sustainable too. Along with our partner, The Home Depot, we're delighted to support and enhance POLAHS' extraordinary gardening program!"
The San Pedro Science Center donated a 40 x 50 ft. plot of land to POLAHS Environmental Engineering students in the summer of 2010. You may remember what happened next from the article in this local San Pedro blog. The Garden Program continues into 2011, as students recently harvested a new plot, and have plans to expand the scope of their vegetable and produce distribution at local farmers markets and neighborhood shelters.
Receiving an award from the National Gardening Association is a distinct honor; First Lady Michelle Obama recently worked with the Association to expand the White House Kitchen Garden as an integral part of her "Let's Move" childhood nutrition initiative. According to the First Lady, youth gardening programs help children learn first-hand the benefits of growing, harvesting, and eating healthy foods.
POLAHS has taken the Garden Program a step further, by integrating their studies in renewable energies and sustainable agriculture methods.
National Gardening Association Mission: To promote home, school, and community gardening as a means to renew and sustain the essential connections between people, plants, and the environment.