From the joint use of public facilities to workforce development and community projects, schools can be a great asset to leverage for multiple benefits for the community. In areas that lack access to recreational facilities and healthy food, schools can be an ideal partner to provide access to these amenities through joint-use agreements.
Community gardens that serve as a learning opportunity for youth can also provide an opportunity for farmers markets that can increase access to healthy food for community members. Industrial-sized kitchens – typically underused outside of school hours – could also offer an opportunity for local entrepreneurs.
Grant Union High School in the Sacramento region uses their school garden to teach students business and economics as part of its GEO Environmental Science and Design Academy. Students oversee their products from seed to consumer, and learn valuable lessons through field trips to the local tomato farm, processor and bottler.
Students manage every aspect of the business. They market and sell both traditional and spicy peach salsas, and manage the bookkeeping, inventory and operation details that keep the business going and growing. Their classroom is transformed into a mini-company headquarters, with each student working on sales, operations, marketing or finance teams. Students spend their Saturdays selling and conducting product demos of their delicious salsa at local grocery stores, farmers’ markets, and a variety of school and community events.