A Nationwide Snapshot of the Predictors of and Barriers to School Garden Success.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the degree and predictors of and barriers to school garden integration (termed success). DESIGN: A 30-item online survey consisting of demographic, garden characteristic, and barrier questions, as well as the School Garden Integration Scale, was conducted in 266 school garden organizations (13 national, 8 regional, and 245 state or local). PARTICIPANTS: A total of 414 school gardeners from 38 states and Puerto Rico. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: School garden success using the GREEN Tool. ANALYSIS: Descriptive statistics were used to determine the degree of success of school garden programs and explore barriers. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to determine independent predictors of school garden success. RESULTS: The average score was 37 (range 1-53, of a possible 57 points), indicating moderate success. Operating budget (P < .001), operating time (P < .05), and planting in-ground (P < .01) had a positive significant influence on success score, whereas rural location (P < .01) and lacking community interest (P < .01) had a negative significant influence, controlling for race/ethnicity, region, total garden investment, and Community Need Index score (a proxy for socioeconomic status). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Results indicate that success of school garden programs may be more difficult for the schools located in a rural area or in the absence of school or community-at-large interest. This study found that race/ethnicity of students and socioeconomic status are not related to success score, which is promising as other research indicates that successful school gardens may be especially impactful for low-income people of color. Causal research is needed to identify strategies that increase school garden success, with a focus on engaging key stakeholders (administrators, teachers, parents, the community at large, and garden coordinators).

Horta na escola: sustentabilidade e hábitos saudáveis no município de Cantá-RR / Horta at school: sustainability and healthy habits in the city of Cantá-RR

This short communication presents the importance of environmental education through activities developed in the school vegetable garden. The procedures aim to contribute to changes in habits and attitudes of elementary and high school students towards their perceptions about nature. In this context, the school vegetable garden works as an interesting tool for the school, becoming one of the most important agents for the sensitization and formation of values of respect, care awareness and environmental protection. Moreover, childrens diet improves though a higher consumption of vegetables and fruits. Working in the vegetable garden creates a sense of solidarity, essential for group. It also builds a sense of responsibility, greater human values that permeate the whole educational process, establishing early healthy relationships with the environment and amongst people, thus forming citizens able to take on new attitudes in the search for solutions to environmental problems. Finally, it stimulates care in the pursuit for improving the quality of life of humans and other living beings.(AU)

Apresenta-se neste artigo, a importância da educação ambiental através de atividades desenvolvidas na horta escolar. As atividades contribuem para a modificação nos hábitos e atitudes de alunos do ensino fundamental e do ensino médio quanto à percepção que eles possuem da natureza. Neste contexto, a horta escolar se encaixa como uma interessante ferramenta para a escola, estando entre os agentes mais importantes neste processo de sensibilização. A formação da consciência de respeito e cuidado; da necessidade de conservar o meio ambiente. A alimentação das crianças melhora, pois, passam a aceitar melhor as verduras, legumes e frutas. Os trabalhos desenvolvidos na horta criam a percepção da solidariedade, fundamental para trabalhar em grupo. Constrói o senso de responsabilidade, de valores mais humanizados e permeia todo o processo educativo, estabelecendo desde cedo relações saudáveis com o meio ambiente e entre as pessoas, formando cidadãos capazes de assumir novas atitudes na busca de soluções para os problemas socioambientais. Enfim, estimula o cuidado na busca da melhoria da qualidade de vida de humanos e de outras formas de vida.(AU)

Horta na escola: sustentabilidade e hábitos saudáveis no município de Cantá-RR / Horta at school: sustainability and healthy habits in the city of Cantá-RR

This short communication presents the importance of environmental education through activities developed in the school vegetable garden. The procedures aim to contribute to changes in habits and attitudes of elementary and high school students towards their perceptions about nature. In this context, the school vegetable garden works as an interesting tool for the school, becoming one of the most important agents for the sensitization and formation of values of respect, care awareness and environmental protection. Moreover, childrens diet improves though a higher consumption of vegetables and fruits. Working in the vegetable garden creates a sense of solidarity, essential for group. It also builds a sense of responsibility, greater human values that permeate the whole educational process, establishing early healthy relationships with the environment and amongst people, thus forming citizens able to take on new attitudes in the search for solutions to environmental problems. Finally, it stimulates care in the pursuit for improving the quality of life of humans and other living beings.

Apresenta-se neste artigo, a importância da educação ambiental através de atividades desenvolvidas na horta escolar. As atividades contribuem para a modificação nos hábitos e atitudes de alunos do ensino fundamental e do ensino médio quanto à percepção que eles possuem da natureza. Neste contexto, a horta escolar se encaixa como uma interessante ferramenta para a escola, estando entre os agentes mais importantes neste processo de sensibilização. A formação da consciência de respeito e cuidado; da necessidade de conservar o meio ambiente. A alimentação das crianças melhora, pois, passam a aceitar melhor as verduras, legumes e frutas. Os trabalhos desenvolvidos na horta criam a percepção da solidariedade, fundamental para trabalhar em grupo. Constrói o senso de responsabilidade, de valores mais humanizados e permeia todo o processo educativo, estabelecendo desde cedo relações saudáveis com o meio ambiente e entre as pessoas, formando cidadãos capazes de assumir novas atitudes na busca de soluções para os problemas socioambientais. Enfim, estimula o cuidado na busca da melhoria da qualidade de vida de humanos e de outras formas de vida.

Back to the forest: exploring forest transitions in Candelaria Loxicha, Mexico.

Declining profitability of agriculture and/or higher prices of forest products and services typically drive an increase in forest cover. This article examines changes in forest cover in Candelaria Loxicha, Mexico. Forest cover increased in the area as a result of coffee cultivation in coffee forest-garden systems. Dependence on forest products and services, and not prices of forest products, drive the process in our study site. Low international coffee prices and high labor demand outside the community might pull farmers out of agriculture, but they do not completely abandon the lands. A diversification in income sources prevents land abandonment and contributes to maintaining rural populations and coffee forest gardens.