Cole Middle School, West Oakland
 The program at Cole Middle School has full support of the principal, Dr. Dorothy Wiggins and the schoolteachers. The student population is predominantly African American (75%) and over 85% of the students are eligible for free or reduced price meals. Located in West Oakland, the school is in the heart of Alameda County where the rates of diabetes and deaths due to chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart attack and stroke are higher than any other county in the Bay Area. Students and families live in environments polluted with fast food, fat, salt, sugar, and pesticides. Low-quality food availability, environments, and information lead to nutritionally inadequate intakes resulting in chronic disease as well as retarded physical growth, brain development and function. Improving the health and future achievement of this low-income community is the focus of the partnership between Cole Middle School and From the Garden to the Table.
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Future Location of the Teaching Garden
The open door is the entrance to the
Teaching Kitchen & Classroom |
The center of the program is the instructional kitchen. Viking is donating all of the equipment, the well-known architectural firm of Sheahan+Quandt (Architecture, Interiors, and Sustainable Design) is contributing the instructional kitchen plan, Odin’s Hammer (Green Builders) is the building contractor, and Woodshanti (Green Carpentry) is creating the cabinets. The National Space and Aeronautics Administration (NASA) is partnering to develop challenging integrated science programs. Here everybody grows by tasting, enjoying organic, sustainably grown foods and creating a learning community of students, teachers, families, and administrators. This partnership will also:
- Present nutrition education and all organic cooking classes to students, families, and teaching staff so a circle of health and support surrounds students.
- Develop school fundraising and event policies that promote health and activity.
- Provide a convenient and affordable organic farmers' market for families and the surrounding community.
- Design an outdoor garden and learning environment that promotes experiences to reinforce, enhance, and bring real-life connections to daily classroom lessons.
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| Conceptual view of new Teaching Garden |
The partnership includes an expansive network of organic food purveyors, non-profit foundations, and fine dining establishments to participate in meal production, cooking and nutrition education, and fundraising. Environmental specialists, organic gardeners, landscaping architects, and recycling experts will close the circle. Through these programs students and families see the interconnection between the environment and their health and their role in making choices that protect these life essentials.
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