EV Farms to Schools FAQs

Where is the Community Garden Located? 
The acreage for this garden is on the Northwest corner of Sullivan and Wellesley; south of the softball fields, east of EVMS and west of EVHS tennis courts.

Who is managing the partnership?
A committee has been formed comprising members of the community, school district teachers and administrators, local farmers and gardeners, Washington State University Extension members and Master Gardeners.  The planning for this garden began in this committee. The implementation will be carried out by interested members of the community and members of East Valley High School's Science, Business, and Food Science classes.

We have many resources available to this project through community organizations.  Master Gardeners and Washington State University Extension Office have offered their assistance in soil testing, crop consideration and physical planning of the garden.  The committee will host a tractor pull March 6th at 1:00pm that will take care of the field cultivation thanks to The Inland Empire Steam and Gas Buffs; a local tractor club.

Where is the money coming from to pay for this project?
We have a small amount of grant money and have also applied for and are waiting to hear if we have won other grants. We have wonderful members of our community that have donated products and services.  Please see our donor section for a list of wonderful donors!  If you would like to donate, please contact Lynette Romney.

Can anyone participate?
Yes!  Anyone willing to put in the time and effort can come and participate.  We ask that you treat all gardeners and garden plots with respect and clean up after yourself.

How do I sign up for a bed or a section of the open field? 
Please call Lynette Romney at 509-230-9436 or email her at momromney@earthlink.net to secure your plot.

Will the district provide seeds?
No, the individual gardeners will provide the seeds for the crop they intend to grow.

Is there water available?
Yes.  There will be water lines for irrigation and watering purposes.

Is there a Fee? 
There is no fee.  You provide your seeds and labor we will provide the space and access to water.  

Is there a time restraint as to when we are allowed in to weed/tend the plants? 
Please tend your garden during daylight hours.

Are we allowed to use Miracle Gro? 
Yes, but you must respect the neighboring plots and try to keep your Miracle Gro contained.

How do we keep our crops from being cross pollinated? 
If you are growing crops in the field space, we would ask that every participant there grow the same variety of crop.  We will have a meeting before planting where field participants can agree on the individual varieties of crops to grow.

What are the benefits of this Project?
This community garden will be the jumping off point for establishing an agribusiness curriculum in our high school and incorporating hands on learning at the middle and elementary levels through raised bed gardening at each school.  Think of the wonderful learning that will take place as a kindergartner doesn’t just watch the bean seed her or she planted sprout, only to wither on a windowsill, but plant that sprout in their own class garden outside their classroom window and watch that seedling take root and grow and produce the beans that he or she eats for lunch.  Understanding the process that our food takes from dirt to table can build a foundation for healthy eating habits that can last a lifetime. 

Where some students struggle in mainstream instruction, they will have a new opportunity to learn in a different way.  Fund raising for teams and clubs can become crop raising as students grow profitable crops to sell and support their activities thus relieving some of the financial burdens placed of families.  Learning to work together in a different environment can build unity and a desire to be industrious.

This garden will also provide food for hungry neighbors as we donate portions of district grown crops to Second Harvest Food Bank.  Helping our neighbors has never tasted so sweet!  East Valley High School students will have the opportunity to operate a Farmer's Market on the premises. Participants in our community garden will have the opportunity to sell their produce, donate portions of their crops to the local food banks or even provide produce for our district kitchens and food sciences classes.

As our High School Business students set up and operate the Farmer's Market, they will have a tremendous entrepreneurial opportunity as will everyone who sells produce at the market.  Our high school science students are planting seeds to use for starts and our Key Club members are getting our PR campaign started by hanging information on doors in the neighborhoods surrounding the school.

As this plot of land is made productive and beautiful, our hope is that families will carry on what they have learned in their own homes and yards thus making our community not just lovely to be in, but lovely to look at.  A future goal would be using other fallow fields in the community to grow a crop instead of weeds.