Graduation Year
2006
Document Type
Open Access Senior Thesis
Department
Environmental Analysis
Rights Information
© 2006 Michael Press
Abstract
In recent decades, environmental problems associated with conventional agriculture, children’s nutrition, and concern over the adequacy of the current food supply have led to the emergence of the sustainable food and food security movements. These issues have also inspired the state of California to pass legislation to place a garden in every school in the state. This thesis analyzes the accuracy of this policy’s implementation and its effects on the sustainable food and food security movements. Research found that the loss of state funding for this policy and the administrative, logistical, and informational barriers to establishing garden education programs has meant that only about a third of California schools have gardens. The gardens that do exist demonstrate excellent benefits in terms of educational and nutritional goals, but only help the sustainable food and food security movements to a limited extent. Suggestions for future improvement include obtaining state funding for the program once more, expanding existing gardens to produce more food and increase the impact on food production issues, and increase informational and technical support for teachers. Nevertheless, the program has been successful at establishing itself and is continuing to grow, thus showing great promise for the future.
Recommended Citation
Press, Michael, "Growing a Better Food System: An Analysis of the Impact of California School Gardens on the Sustainable Food and Food Security Movements" (2006). Pomona Senior Theses. 116.
https://scholarship.claremont.edu/pomona_theses/116
