Lettuce Link’s Nutrition and Gardening Education Program at Marra Farm  
Lettuce Link’s project supports Concord Elementary school, YMCA after-school programs, and the Community Center Summer Program at Marra Farm in the South Park neighborhood. Activities include hands-on gardening, nutrition education, cooking with farm fresh produce, and environmental education projects with nearly 200 students.
Project success: Lettuce Link grows 13,000 pounds of produce per year for the Providence Regina House Food Bank and 95% of children participating try a new vegetable each class and participate in making three healthy recipes.  Xavier, 9-years old says of his experience in the 10-week program, “That was so cool. I’ll remember it always…even when I’m old”

Contact: Michelle Bates-Benetua michelleb@solid-ground.org at Lettuce Link, a program of Solid Ground

Website: http://www.solid-ground.org/Programs/Nutrition/Lettuce
Gardening, nutrition and environmental education materials, lesson plans, and curriculum ideas available at the Lettuce Link office at Solid Ground.

Cultivating Youth
The Cultivating Youth Program has provided garden-based nutrition education for youth aged 6-12 since 2003. Each year, over 200 youth participate in hands-on gardening classes in Seattle Housing Authority communities.  Through this program children have an opportunity to eat vegetables and fruits fresh from community gardens and learn to make healthy snacks. The children are primarily first-generation immigrants and this program helps link them to the cultures of their families while teaching them where their food comes from, its nutritional value, and how to grow it.

Contact: Janet Ebaugh, Garden Education Specialist janet.ebaugh@seattle.gov Office: (206) 733-9188 Cell: (206) 257-8245 
Website: www.cultivatingyouth.org

 Laurelhurst Elementary School, Seattle -- School Nutrition Advisory Committee
The Laurelhurst Elementary Nutrition Advisory Committee has been active since spring of 2005. One big success has been the establishment of a list of alternative celebration ideas. "Our goal is to support and respect each teacher's classroom philosophy regarding school parties and celebrations by making alternative, non-food celebration ideas available. We want to convey that the issue of what's served at school parties and celebrations is about more than just nutritional concerns, it's about being inclusive. Not everyone can participate whether it is due to allergies or economic means. We have posted this list of suggestions on our website." (See the URL below.)
An active school garden program "offers a ripe environment for aligning hands-on learning to student achievement in the classroom. In the garden, students learn about the origin of their food, and observe the inter-relationships between plants, soil and insects.” (Erin MacDougall, PhD. in Nutrition - who helped start the Laurelhurst Elementary garden.)

Tagline: “Eat smart, Get Smart” to make the connection between good nutrition and "readiness to learn.

Contact: Elise Hart, elisemhart@yahoo.com Parent, Chair of Laurelhurst Nutrition Advisory Committee, Member of F2S Connections Team
Website: www.seattleschools.org/schools/laurelhurst/nutrition/index.html
School newsletter -- Click on "Laurelhurst Nutrition News"
List of alternative celebration foods -- click on "Let us Inspire You!" then "Classroom Birthday Celebration Ideas."