Page 119 - FY21 Wellness Promotion Policy Annual Report

STUDENTS
Physical Education
& Physical Activity Environment &
Nutrition
Physical Environment EMPLOYEES Engagement Family Physical COORDINATING POLICY, PROCESS, AND PRACTICE Counseling, Social & FAMILIES
Community
Involvement
Services
Psychological
Services
HEALTHY SAFE
CHALLENGED SUPPORTED ENGAGED
Social &
Emotional
Environment
Employee IMPROVING LEARNING AND HEALTH Health Climate
Wellness Education
Health
Services
COMMUNITY
Community and School Gardens
Community Garden with Soil & Soul, Inc.
Soil & Soul, Inc. (formerly known as Aurora’s Voice, Inc.) is a nonprofit organization that was created to
strengthen and build networks to inspire healthy eating and emotional well-being in communities. They
reached out to the District roughly two years ago with a desire to revitalize the Tiger Territory Education Garden
(TTEG) at North Grade Elementary to create a community urban garden and education center. Their intention
is to inspire regenerative agriculture, food sustainability, promote healthy eating, emotional well-being, and
address food insecurity, by encouraging students and community members to connect with nature, “dig in”
and participate in the growing process.
From July 2019 to July 2020, Aurora’s Voice (now Soil & Soul, Inc.) worked directly with the Principal and
administration at North Grade Elementary under a eBusiness Partnership Agreement (PBSD 1570). That year
they produced roughly 1,000 pounds of food. In March 2020, due to the onset of COVID-19, Soil & Soul, Inc. no
longer had access to the property which impacted TTEG and the expected yield they were hoping to produce.

Working collaboratively with the District, Soil & Soul, Inc. intends to provide additional developmental, social,
and cultural opportunities for children and the community. In doing so, they recognized the benefits to be
derived through a partnership with the District by establishing gardens and educating students about the
environment, nature, growing produce, and proper garden care.
This long term license agreement supports their desire to set forth the basic framework under which Soil
& Soul, Inc. is on track to generate approximately 1,200 pounds of food for the community while teaching
children how to grow food and eat healthy. Their long term goal is to partner with farmers out west of Palm
Beach County to supplement the produce generated and create youth led farmers’ markets to feed more
neighbors. Produce that will become available at the TTEG include bananas, papayas, yucca, and moringa
which are the biggest crops right now.

To tackle this endeavor, Soil & Soul, Inc. entered into a short term license agreement on May 29, 2020 allowing
them to first clear the property while the details of this long term license agreement were worked out by
the District’s Garden Collaboration Team. This team was created by the School Food Service Department
in 2016 to align various District departments to ensure consistent garden practices and safety protocols
are maintained district-wide. The team is made up of representatives from all District departments that are
impacted by school gardens. The Departments on this team are the following:

Garden Collaboration Team

Building Code Services (BCS) Purchasing
Construction Risk and Benefits Management - Safety & Insurance
Choice and Career Options Safe Schools
Environmental and Conservation Services (ESC) Support Services/Health Services
Federal and State Programs School Food Service (SFS)
General Counsel’s Office Teaching and Learning
Maintenance and Plant Operations

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