Farm to School Program of the City Schools of Decatur Wins Prestigious State-Wide Award

The City Schools of Decatur have won the prestigious Golden Radish Award for their exemplary Farm to School program, which is a collaboration between the Wylde Center and City Schools of Decatur. Winners of the state-wide honor are selected by the Georgia Department of Education, Georgia Department of Agriculture, Georgia Department of Public Health, and Georgia Organics. The Golden Radish recognizes the outstanding leadership of schools and their partner organizations in building comprehensive farm to school programs. The district was one of 30 school districts throughout the state to receive the honor.

The Wylde Center, one of metro Atlanta’s premier environmental organizations, has worked to give children the opportunity to grow and taste fresh produce for 17 years. Through the Center’s partnership with the City Schools of Decatur, this past year alone, Farm to School garden lessons were incorporated into classroom lesson plans at least 300 times. The City Schools of Decatur’s Nutrition department incorporated locally grown food items into school meals more than 30 times, and menus included a fun fact about that month’s produce. Over 75 percent of the Decatur City Schools have edible gardens, including Clairemont Elementary School, Renfroe Middle School and Decatur High School.

“The Farm to School program is one of the Wylde Center’s most successful outreach initiatives,” said Stephanie Van Parys, executive director of the Wylde Center. “Both staff and volunteers work closely with the teachers and students to help teachers integrate lessons about food growing into their curriculum and to give students hands-on opportunities to work in the garden and taste the fresh produce,” she said.

“We were thrilled to be one of the 8 school systems in the state to receive the Gold Level Achievement of the Golden Radish Award,” said Allison Goodman, CSD School Nutrition Director. “It is because of our collaborative partnership with the Wylde Center that we are able to implement Farm to School and expose our students to so many fresh, locally grown foods.”

According to State School Superintendant Dr. John Barge, “When children are offered fresh, locally sourced foods, they are more prepared for learning today, and more likely to continue healthy habits tomorrow. At the same time, their school is supporting local agriculture, which has been and will continue to be an anchor of Georgia’s economy.”

About the Wylde Center

In 1997, an idea took root in the Oakhurst area of Decatur, Ga. Neighbors Sally Wylde and Louise Jackson envisioned a community garden where children could learn about the natural world and enjoy hands-on gardening activities. With the purchase of a half-acre of property at the corner of South McDonough St. and Oakview Road, the Oakhurst Community Garden was born. Today, supported by members, foundations, corporations and donors, the non-profit has been re-named the Wylde Center to honor its co-founder and to better encompass its expanded range of properties and programs. The Wylde Center oversees four distinctive greenspaces, educational program, social events and the Decatur City Schools’ Farm to School Program. Staff and volunteers engage children, families and individuals in activities designed to develop creative skills in sustainable urban living, organic gardening, health and nutrition. Despite its robust growth, the Wylde Center has stayed true to its original mission of cultivating vibrant greenspaces for everyone to enjoy and inspiring communities of environmental stewards. www.wyldecenter.org