The Beethoven Elementary
School Learning Garden was created in 2010.
The school yard was transformed from asphalt to green garden space
with the help of parent and community volunteers as well as grants from organizations including FOB (Friends of Beethoven), the Mar vista Community Council, UCCE Master Gardeners and
the Venice High School Learning Garden.
Students and parent volunteers and
teachers collaborate and use the garden for lessons ranging from nutrition to
science life cycles. The parents started
a composting program that recycles the school cafeteria's lunch waste and turns
it into rich organic compost for the garden. The Student Council organizes and runs the compost program
with the help of school faculty and parent volunteers.
The edibles planted in the garden
are used to teach students at all grade levels about "where food comes
from?" and nutritional lessons on the values of eating closest to the
whole source of food.
The garden
includes a pollinator insect zone focusing on Monarch butterflies and their
role in our eco-system. Thew garden provides living examples for Earth Science lessons on the environment
and life cycles. The garden is also a
place for students and parents to explore and enjoy before and
after school.
Nutritionist and dietician Maya Mortimer and Master Gardener and composter Wen-Chia
Parker will be at the garden to answer your questions. Trash for Teaching will be there as well with information about their programs to minimize waste and maximize education.
The garden is also on the Wildside School Garden Tour.
The garden is also on the Wildside School Garden Tour.
Beethoven welcomes
community volunteers to participate in their growing garden!
