Our City of Angels gets a new one in the garden …and new gardens in schools!
Join LAUSD's School-District-Gardener-in-Residence Mud Baron, Nicole Richie, People Magazine and The New York Times (not, Mud assures 4LAKids, the four Horsepeople of the Post-Budget Crisis Apocalypse) at Bernstein High School on Tuesday, May 12 @ 10AM
They're launching the (almost defunct) LAUSD SCHOOL GARDEN PROGRAM'S new partnership with the ENVIRONMENTAL MEDIA ASSOCIATION - the 'angel' that has stepped up and come though to fund the School Garden Program when the District state eliminated (not cut) their budget!
The students at Bernstein, the Hollywood Community and three totally inspired teachers get a school garden/outdoor classroom too... it's way overdue!
Thank you Environmental Media Association!
10 AM Tuesday May 12 Helen Bernstein High School
1309 North Wilton Pl
Hollywood, CA 90028
(323) 817-6400
Get directions
Mia Lehrer, Cynthia Ruiz, Richard Alonzo, smf and a few others will be on hand.
Info and details: schoolgarden@gmail.com
THE BUZZ: Stars Team Up With Environmental Media Association To Help LA Schools With Organic Gardens
Access Hollywood - May 4, 2009 1:33 PM PDT
LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Los Angeles area schools are about to get a little greener, thanks to the help of several celebrities, including one of Access' own.
The Environmental Media Association (EMA) and company Yes To Inc. have announced an ongoing partnership with the LA Unified School District to support organic gardens and greenery in urban schools across the city.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: The Latest Star Sightings
According to the EMA, the organization and Yes To Inc. will directly support a number of school gardens through funding and celebrity mentoring from members of EMA's Young Hollywood Board.
"I grew up with community gardens in my neighborhood, so I know how important they can be for kids. I am very excited to be supporting the Environmental Media Association's new project to support organic gardens in LA schools," EMA Board Member Rosario Dawson told Access Hollywood.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Green Celebrities
Rosario is joined on the board by stars including Amy Smart , Nicole Richie , Maroon 5, Lance Bass , Matthew Rhys , Olivia Wilde and Access Hollywood's own Maria Menounos , who said she was thrilled to be part of the project.
"I grew up with a garden in my backyard. Most of our food came directly from there. I recently planted my own in California and can't wait to start eating delicious organic vegetables. It's important for communities to develop self-sustaining, organic food sources and to educate young people on the environmental responsibility. I'm so excited to be a part of this movement," Maria said.
MORE BUZZ: Got Dirt? Celebs to Adopt Organic Gardens in LAUSD Schools
By Lindsay William-Ross in LA-ist/News
May 11, 2009 -- This week, the Environmental Media Association's Young Hollywood Board is putting on the gloves and digging deep in support of organic gardening in Los Angeles-area schools. Celebs on the Board, including Nicole Richie, Lance Bass, Rosario Dawson, members of Maroon 5, Amy Smart, Matthew Rhys, Emily VanCamp and Emmanuelle Chriqui, will each adopt an area school, help with the planting, and check in with their gardens during the school year, explains People.
Nicole Richie, seen here in an ad for her fashion line House of Harlow, will trade posing for planting in LAUSD school gardens
The project is the product of a newly-formed partnership between the EMA and the Los Angeles Unified School District's School Gardens program, and personal care brand Yes To Inc. The launch event is scheduled for tomorrow morning at Hollywood's Helen Bernstein High School, and the program will take root over the next several months.
Just how much dirt Richie et al will actually get under their fingernails remains to be seen, but Bass for one is pretty stoked: "Organic gardens are so important, especially in urban areas where many students would otherwise never see any greenery. I hope that the support will help them to grow and flourish in Los Angeles."
COMMENTS:
What is the point. The cafeteria is going to continue to serve the lowest common denominator crap. It blows my mind that there are non-profits that are trying to change the health quality of school lunch but LAUSD would rather pay more for the continued crap food and crap service.
Growing vegetables is great - but getting actual vegetables in the cafeteria would be a better way to go.
James
Lindsay William-Ross replied to comment from morrissey
James
Unfortunately there are a lot of legalities that make putting the produce grown on site into the cafeterias impossible as of now. I agree that the food quality at the LAUSD needs to be upped significantly, but it is going to take a lot of effort to make that a reality, and saying "what is the point?" really only adds to the negative mentality that keeps positive change from gaining momentum and being put into place.
Ultimately, in regards to this story, it's not about vegetables for the cafeterias, but rather the use of gardens as an educational tool. The program has been cut by the LAUSD, so without a group like the EMA's amazing help, it wouldn't be happening AT ALL anymore next school year.I'll reiterate your best point: "Growing vegetable is great" and hope that we can focus on being positive.
No comments:
Post a Comment