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Students Learning through Urban Gardening (SLUG)

Boston Natural Areas Network (BNAN), an urban open space preservation and stewardship organization has started a new program in urban school-based vegetable gardening. The model, called "Students Learning through Urban Gardening" (SLUG), provides participants with training and support, a SLUG Handbook relating curriculum to BPS learning standards and frameworks, and garden materials and supplies.

The SLUG program will lead teachers and students through “planting to harvesting” vegetable gardening and short-duration garden-related activities. SLUG provides the know-how for indoor and outdoor vegetable gardening, as well as indoor composting (vermiculture) and outdoor composting. BNAN and partners of the program provide teachers and students with training, gardening supplies, and on-site support. Teachers at SLUG sites lead the activities.

BNAN has also formed an Advisory Committee to oversee the development of the SLUG program. The Advisory Committee is made up of classroom teachers, teacher trainers, gardeners, greenhouse growers, and members of organizations already implementing vegetable gardening curriculum in schools. The committee meets monthly (except during the summer) to review components of the SLUG program as they are developed.

The SLUG Handbook has been created by SLUG staff and reviewed by Advisory Committee members and participating teachers. SLUG provides two Teacher Training sessions, one in the spring and one in the winter; PDPs are provided for participating teachers.

If you and other teachers at your school would like to participate in the SLUG program, please contact us with any questions or comments: BNAN Stewardship Manager at 617-542-7696 or info@bostonnatural.org.

Thank you for your interest in the SLUG program. For more information on the SLUG program including schools and photos, visit our wikispace at http://bnan.wikispaces.com.

SLUG Overview in pdf format

SLUG Site Agreement in pdf. format

SLUG Application in pdf format

SLUG FAQ in pdf format