Food for Thought Ojai

“Expenses program materials 8,778 administrative costs 10,939 field trips and meetings 3,069 community outreach 13,432 ag-school gardens 33,226 green & healthy schools 11,808 nutrition education 853 agricultural literacy 4,385 reconciliation discrep -2 total 86,488”

“Prepaid expenses and deferred charges 0 445 total 0 445”

“Food for thought works with the local community to support, educate and inspire our school children and their families to make healthier food choices. We are a diverse group of community members collaborating with ojai's public schools to nurture an awareness of food and its relationship to health, society and the environment. Our volunteers and staff coordinate experiential learning opportunities in schools and participate in outreach, advocacy and coalition-building in the greater community.”

“All of the elementary along with the local high school are actively participating in garden development and education along with nutrition awareness - making healthy choices. Waste stream audits are continuing with student awareness building. 32 environmental field studies students at nordhoff high school worked with food for thought staff throughout the year to promote recycling on campus, introduced composting to their school garden, plant and harvest produce for their classmates. Local farm visits numbered 10 timeswhere students learned composting techniques, fruit tree-pruning, textile dyeing using plant-based dyes, goat and chicken care. Students planned, prepared and enjoyed an end-of-year luncheon for their respective classes. Program results: high school seniors explored college curriculums for environmental studies and organic farmihng. Nordoff high school introduced new career technical education pathway as a direct result of this program. Student population along with parents and community are actively involved at all levels of program development. Program serves over 1,000 students, 150 educators and administration along with an ojai population base of over 8,000.”

“Garden-based learning: this weekly program expands/introduces garden based learning opportunities in the elementary school gardens. This is the mainstay of the food for thought program. Each week close to 200 students visit the gardens during recess and additional classes are taught throughout the school year by our garden-based learning team. The gardens have produced seeds for saving and worm composting at several schools. Fresh and healthy garden snacks are a key component of the garden program. Parents continue to be encouraged to participate and assist with garden club activities.”

“Administrative costs along with seminars help to keep all staff and board members current with trends and environmental impact changes not only within the county but also world awareness. Subscriptions and district communication are a part of these costs and continue to keep a fine tune on the relationship between the garden (earth), the student (people) and the exempt mission of the program. The harvest of the month program is run entirely with volunteers at three (3) of the largest elementary schools to promote county-wide produce choice. One thursday a month approximately 1,000 taste test servings are offered up to students during recess and lots of discussion about locally grown seasonal produce takes place both in and out of the classroom.”