Lower Columbia School Gardens tells board volunteers and plantings surged; program now in 20 schools

Ian Thompson, operations coordinator for the nonprofit Lower Columbia School Gardens, updated the Cowlitz County Board of Health on Tuesday about the program’s expansion and recent activities. Thompson said the gardens now operate in 20 elementary and middle schools in the Longview and Kelso school districts and that volunteers and events have increased since the board provided funding last year. “We’re really grateful for the funding. It has really helped us,” Thompson said. The presentation highlighted volunteer and program metrics: 102 new volunteers this year and about 1,230 volunteer hours; the program started 15,000 plants from seed for distribution to school gardens and community giveaways; staff and volunteers maintain an orchard and more than 200 grapevines; and schools used garden-based lessons in science and nutrition. Thompson described teacher training run in partnership with Educational Service District 112 to give teachers STEM-aligned curriculum ties and paid substitute coverage for attendees. Board members asked whether the program tracks long-term outcomes for students who participate and whether alumni return. Thompson said the program sees returning student volunteers and high-school interns but has not conducted a formal longitudinal follow-up of participants. He described a rotating schedule of farm-stand harvest distributions and community plant giveaways — “we gave away close to 2,000 plants” — and said partners include schools, community organizations and local businesses that sponsor gardens or days of service. Why it matters Board members framed the garden program as a public-health and youth-engagement tool: gardens supply fresh produce to students and neighbors, provide hands-on STEM and nutrition education, and create volunteer and internship pathways for older students. Program details and next steps - Schools and sites: Northlake Elementary (longstanding site), Catlin, Barnes, Saint Helens, Wallace and others in Longview and Kelso. - Activities: teacher trainings, Earth Day events, youth leadership summits, plant sales and summer open-garden days when volunteers and public may visit without school background checks. - Funding and partners: the nonprofit operates with donations, sponsorships and some grants; Thompson said one recent capital loss of other funding made the county support particularly valuable for continuity. Quotes from the record - "We’re just really grateful for the funding. It has really helped us," Ian Thompson said of the board’s earlier support. - On volunteer scale: Thompson reported "1,230 volunteer hours so far" and gave examples of school-based and community events. No formal board action was taken at the presentation. Staff and board members encouraged continued outreach and suggested the program consider follow-up metrics for participants as they age through middle and high school.