Category: Press Release

National Academies Gulf Research Program Award Empowers Galveston’s Own Farmers Market to Bring Successful Young Gardeners Program Into The School Day

GALVESTON, Texas – December 2, 2024 – The Gulf Research Program (GRP) of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) has announced awards totaling 5 million dollars to support 12 projects across the Gulf to cultivate K-8 youth into advocates solving environmental issues in their own communities. K-12 non-profit EcoRise has been awarded $421,880 to forward and level up the work of GOFM’s Young Gardeners Program within Galveston Independent School District. EcoRise has been a robust partner of Galveston’s Own Farmers Market (GOFM) since 2022 as the primary collaborator behind the Students for Eco-Empowerment & Diversity paid high school internship program.

The ‘Growing Galveston Project’ combines EcoRise’s standards-aligned curricula, teacher professional development, and student-driven microgrants with Galveston’s Own Farmers Market’s (GOFM) Young Gardeners Program to offer hands-on, place-based education, transforming school gardens into outdoor classrooms, fostering scientific and environmental literacy for every K-8 student. 

GOFM’s Young Gardeners Program (YGP) currently operates at 7 Galveston ISD (GISD) schools as part of the TOR and Texas ACE after-school programs. With the support of the NASEM award, the ‘Growing Galveston Project’ will further integrate YGP operations into the school day, provide access to bilingual STEM-based and TEKS-aligned outdoor lessons, support student-led innovation projects where K-8 students will collect and analyze environmental data to identify local environmental challenges in their schools and communities, and offer customized professional learning experiences for all K-8 teachers in GISD that provide teachers with the skills and confidence needed to facilitate lessons in their school gardens alongside GOFM’s Young Gardeners Program staff.

Interested community members can learn more about volunteering by emailing volunteer@gofarmersmarket.com or visiting our website: https://galvestonsownfarmersmarket.com/volunteer  

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About Galveston’s Own Farmers Market

Founded in 2012, Galveston’s Own Farmers Market is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to connecting our community to local foods through year-round weekly farmers markets, food access initiatives, school gardens, and health & food education opportunities. Learn more about our programs: https://galvestonsownfarmersmarket.com/about

About EcoRise

EcoRise is a national K-12 environmental education nonprofit that mobilizes a new generation of leaders to design healthy, just, and thriving communities for all. Working at the intersection of sustainability education, climate resilience, and environmental justice, EcoRise programs elevate youth voices and advance student-led solutions to real-world challenges. Since 2011, EcoRise has supported over 11,000 teachers and 500,000 students in all 50 U.S. states through robust standards-aligned curriculum, teacher professional development, youth climate councils, and paid internships for high school students in partnership with frontline environmental justice organizations. EcoRise has been activating students as sustainability leaders since 2008 in Texas and across the U.S. To learn more, visit EcoRise.org.

About Galveston ISD

Galveston ISD is a public school district in Texas, established in 1884, that serves nearly 7,000 students. Its 10 Schools of Choice campuses consist of traditional and theme-based schools, charter schools, STEM programs, magnet schools, and a mega-magnet high school. The district’s mission is to Educate, Engage and Empower EACH student for a life of Excellence. To learn more, visit www.gisd.org.

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Media Contact

Honi Alexander, Young Gardeners Program Director

Galveston’s Own Farmers Market

honi@gofarmersmarket.com

Galveston’s Own Farmers Market and Galveston ISD Continue to Inspire Kids to Explore Gardens and Try Vegetables

Galveston, TX – October 1, 2024 – Galveston’s Own Farmers Market (GOFM) and Galveston Independent School District (GISD) are excited to announce the upcoming Poster Reveal + Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for the second Farm-to-School (F2S) Poster Campaign featuring art by George Miller. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at 10:00 AM Tuesday, October 8 at Austin Elementary School. This collaborative initiative aims to inspire students of all ages to discover the joy of gardening and the importance of healthy eating. 

Launched in January 2024, The F2S Poster Campaign is a three-part series celebrating the creativity and talent of three artists who participated in the campaign to inspire children to embrace healthy eating and gardening. The first poster, designed by Reginald Adams III, has been replaced by George Miller’s “Gardens Belong to Everyone” artwork until December 2024. In January 2025, Daniel Torres’s “Care, Learn, Love, Repeat” design will take its place. The colorful and engaging posters will be displayed throughout GISD schools, encouraging students to explore the wonders of the school gardens and appreciate the delicious flavors of fresh vegetables in their meals.

“He looks just like me!” says one student at Burnet Elementary, while GOFM & GISD Staff put up Reginald Adam’s “Gardens are our Superpower!” poster in the bustling cafeteria.

“Representation matters. By showcasing the work of diverse artists in our poster campaign, we aim to create a sense of belonging and inclusivity for all children,” says Casey McAuliffe, Executive Director of GOFM. “We wanted them to see themselves reflected in the work of these talented artists. When our students feel at-home in their schools and gardens, they’re more curious about playing in the soil, trying a new vegetable—and growing into their authentic selves.”

This endeavor is part of GOFM’s multi-year USDA grant which was awarded to GOFM in July 2023 to further strengthen the partnership with GISD and further YGP’s reach to the students and families. GOFM’s Young Gardeners Program (YGP) has played a role in fostering a love of gardening and healthy eating among GISD students since 2017. The Program operates an after-school program in all GISD elementary and middle schools and continues to expand its reach thanks to this recent USDA Farm-to-School grant. With the support of this grant, YGP has been integrated into the school day, increasing “Eat Fresh” vegetable tastings as part of school lunches and after-school dinners, development of food sovereignty-focused curriculum, and this poster art project.

How can you support this work? GOFM’s Young Gardeners Program Director Honi Alexander answers, “Become a Friend or Volunteer as a Garden Aide at one of the many schools. Your time and energy are essential to ensuring we teach the magic of gardening to our kids–plus, you can do it with only one hour a week!”

Interested community members can learn more about volunteering by emailing volunteer@gofarmersmarket.com or visiting our website: https://galvestonsownfarmersmarket.com/volunteer

About Galveston’s Own Farmers Market

Founded in 2012, Galveston’s Own Farmers Market is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to connecting our community to local foods through year-round weekly farmers markets, food access initiatives, school gardens, and health & food education opportunities. Learn more about our programs: https://galvestonsownfarmersmarket.com/about

About Galveston ISD

Galveston ISD is a public school district in Texas, established in 1884, that serves nearly 7,000 students. Its 10 Schools of Choice campuses consist of traditional and theme-based schools, charter schools, STEM programs, magnet schools, and a mega-magnet high school. The district’s mission is to Educate, Engage and Empower EACH student for a life of Excellence. To learn more, visit www.gisd.org.

The Poster Designs (in English & Spanish)

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Media Contact

Honi Alexander, Young Gardeners Program Director

Galveston’s Own Farmers Market

honi@gofarmersmarket.com