| Purpose of the Learning GardenThe John Muir | | | | support in terms of time and money from a variety of |
| Learning Garden is designed to give San Francisco | | | | neighborhood partners. San Francisco area businesses, |
| Schools students a change to take learning further | | | | organizations, and volunteer groups have all played a |
| outside of the classroom. The Garden builds on the | | | | role in establishing the Learning Garden. Located in |
| fundamental curriculum concerns of the elementary | | | | Daniel E. Koshland Park, the Learning Garden has |
| school and provides an opportunity for students to gain | | | | benefited from the dedication of two part-time garden |
| real life experience that complements their academic | | | | mentors provided by the Hayes Valley Neighborhoods |
| studies. San Francisco school students are able to | | | | Parks Group. These two women, Rebecca and |
| integrate classroom literacy, mathematics, science, | | | | Aubrey, have become part of the local community as |
| history, and language arts instruction through their | | | | they organize activities that raise local awareness |
| participation in activities in the Learning Garden.The | | | | about the environment.Further assistance has come |
| Learning Garden reaches out to the community in | | | | from the San Francisco League of Urban Gardeners, |
| providing outreach services for parents, neighbors, and | | | | the Center for Ecoliteracy, the Recreation and Park |
| interested volunteers. Mentor gardeners work with | | | | Department, the Buddhist Peace Fellowship, and the |
| teachers and students to design educational | | | | San Francisco Zen Center. All of these organizations |
| opportunities. One of the interesting projects going on | | | | have devoted time and money to helping the John Muir |
| now is the sustainable composting program that takes | | | | Learning Garden become an environmental center for |
| organic waste from San Francisco school lunches and | | | | the San Francisco community, especially the children |
| uses it for fertilizing garden projects instead of filling | | | | that attend John Muir Elementary School. In particular, |
| landfills. This is just one of many projects that combine | | | | the John Muir Learning Garden is indebted to the |
| garden training with practical real world environmental | | | | Buddhist Peace Fellowship, which donated the initial |
| concerns. The events organized in the park help | | | | funds to start the Learning Garden and remains an |
| students and the community learn about how to | | | | active community partner with John Muir Elementary |
| protect the local environment while studying nature in | | | | School.A Look at John Muir Elementary SchoolJohn |
| an urban setting.Partners of the Learning GardenThe | | | | Muir Elementary School has a unique place within the |
| Learning Garden would not be possible without the | | | | San Francisco Public School System. |