Grow It Know It Program Outcomes
UGA researchers collaborated with Clarke Middle School to examine the impact of Grow It Know It at the school, demonstrating that this program provided unique opportunities for students to collaborate and build relationships across socioeconomic and racial lines. For instance, participating sixth graders drew upon their experiences with GIKI programming to suggest community-based solutions to address food insecurity, such as starting community gardens or produce stands in areas that lack access to fresh fruits and vegetables. The research findings led to several professional development opportunities for CCSD educators during the 2016-2017 school year, including, a pre-planning session focused on teaching about sustainability, and a monthly CCSD school garden discussion group.
Award Winning Programming
The Grow It Know It (GIKI) program has inspired observational site visits, conference calls, and meetings by representatives from other schools and non-profits in other school districts (including Barrow, Burke, Fulton, Hall, Oconee, and Walton Counties in Georgia, as well as school districts in South Carolina, Vermont, and West Virginia). GIKI has also offered school garden training sessions at the Georgia Organics Conference and the Georgia Organics Farm to School Summit.
Additionally, Grow It Know It has been cited as a model farm to school program by Georgia Organics and by former USDA Undersecretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services Kevin Concannon. GIKI's work with the Clarke County School District has been honored with the following recognitions:
2018. Platinum Radish Award awarded by Georgia Organics and the Georgia Departments of Education, Agriculture, and Public Health.
2017. Sustainable University of Georgia Outstanding Staff Award to Wick Prichard awarded by the UGA Office of Sustainability.
2017. Garden Earth Naturalist Award to Wick Prichard awarded by the State Botanical Garden of Georgia.
2017. Golden Radish Award awarded by Georgia Organics and the Georgia Departments of Education, Agriculture, and Public Health.
2016. Outstanding Contributor to School Garden Programming to Wick Prichard awarded by Georgia Organics.
2016. Golden Radish Award awarded by Georgia Organics and the Georgia Departments of Education, Agriculture, and Public Health.
2015. Outstanding School District in the State for Farm to School Programming awarded by Georgia Organics and the Georgia Departments of Education, Agriculture and Public Health
Grow It Know It in the News
See news stories about Grow It Know It, including:
https://agecon.uga.edu/news/story.html?storyid=7853&story=Grow-it-Know-it
https://extension.uga.edu/story.html?storyid=7763
And you can follow Grow It Know It on Facebook!