On Saturday May 14, the Alameda County Office of Education’s Project EAT and Ochoa Middle School will host a spring garden party to celebrate urban farming and to promote the importance of healthy eating habits. Participants will have the opportunity to meet master gardeners, enjoy freshly prepared food, learn how anyone can produce fresh foods in their own gardens, and walk away with their own plants to grow at home. The event is an open invitation for the community to attend, and all ages are welcome. The garden party will take place at Ochoa Middle School Garden, 2121 Depot Road, Hayward, 94545 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
 
An enthusiastic group of seventh and eighth graders from Hayward’s Ochoa Middle School will host a spring celebration event for the community around issues of producing local foods, community health, and spring gardening.  Ochoa’s garden interns work after school to nurture and cultivate a large garden at their school and help distribute its bounty to other students, teachers, and neighbors.  The students will host booths on food preservation, growing vegetable starts, obesity prevention, healthy cooking and barbecuing, and baking from the garden. Participants will have the opportunity to meet with master gardeners; enjoy fresh food and treats cooked and prepared by the students, and will walk away with plant seedlings and/or plants grown by students themselves.
 
Many of Ochoa Middle School students became involved with the school garden after seeing the effects of poor nutrition habits in their family or friends. “I worry about getting diabetes, and this program has shown me how to prepare foods in a healthier way,” seventh grade Dashja McConnor reflects. Many students became garden interns because they are interested in the culinary arts, or because they think gardening and cooking are fun ways to get to know their classmates.
 
ACOE’s Project EAT garden programming at Ochoa Middle School is in its fifth year, serving students during the class day through seventh and eighth grade history classes.  Ochoa youth can also participate in the garden through after school programming, with YEP (Youth Empowerment Program) or during the fall garden club.  During this time of the year, a more intensive after school culinary program is available that includes field trips to restaurants and farms, as well as guest chefs and garden projects.
 
About
ACOE’s Project EAT – Educate, Act, Thrive - (www.projecteat.com) provides nutrition education and physical activity promotion through garden-based education and cooking connection classes.  Both in-school and after-school programming are available to preschool- 12th grade students. Project EAT’s standards-based curriculum promotes academic success along with the development of healthy nutrition through the use of active school gardens.  Project EAT also provides free Adult Healthy Living classes for parents, community members and low-income families in multiple school districts throughout Alameda County.  The project aims to help students and families to establish a life-long dedication to their communities and environment. 
 
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