In recent years, we have seen an increase in the popularity of community gardens to address the growing crisis of food deserts, particularly in proximity to major cities. In addition to the nutritional gains, they also offer substantial personal, communal and environmental benefits.

Dr. MLK Jr Academy’s campuses in Marin City and Sausalito have invested in a gardening program for several years now, that provides a place where students can relax have fun working together, and build new skills while learning about the importance of fresh food and healthy nutrition.

At the Nevada Campus, Mrs Michelle Bryant is the School Garden Coordinator and Gardening Class Instructor. Mrs Bryant has decades of experience teaching nutrition and promoting the healing of both body and soul through gardening.

The Nevada Campus, situated in a picturesque hilltop setting, showcases three gardens tailored to different grade levels for students from TK to 5th grade, from a sensory garden to vegetable and herb beds. A dedicated team of volunteers made of parents, neighbors and Marin Master Gardeners provides key help to seed, plant and maintain these gardens which they call “Our Little Slice of Paradise”.

Mrs Bryant envisions transforming these gardens into a high yield farm that supplies produce for school meals and community members, in addition to the educational purpose. However, this vision cannot be fulfilled without the crucial help of volunteers.

If you are passionate about gardening and food equity and would like to volunteer for this project contact Mrs Bryant at mbryant@smcsd.org. Or make a donation on https://www.riseup94965foundation.org/.

Together we can turn this vision into reality for the benefit of our Sausalito children and community!