News Release

April 28, 2003

For Immediate Release

Novato Charter School Wins “Earth Day Every Day” Grant

The Novato Charter School has received an Earth Day Every Day grant from the Marin Community Foundation. The grant will help fund the school’s Heirloom and Native Plant program in which students propagate heirloom vegetables and native plants for distribution to schools throughout Marin County.

The $250 Earth Day Every Day grant will be awarded at the 4^th Annual Meeting of the Environmental Education Council of Marin in San Rafael on Friday, May 2nd from 4-7 p.m. at Pickleweed Park in San Rafael.

Earth Day Every Day Grants are awarded to individuals or organizations working to increase environmental awareness and activity in Marin County.

The NCS gardening program seeks to educate children about the value of heirloom vegetables, native plants, seed saving, and preserving biodiversity. Students will have hands-on experience planting and maintaining organic vegetable gardens using heirloom and rare seeds. They will also grow and plant native seedlings for habitat restoration projects in Marin County.

“This grant will help NCS support Marin County schools in their efforts to educate children, parents and teachers about the value of heirloom plants and biodiversity, and the role native plants play in supporting a healthy habitat,” says Rachael Bishop Director of Novato Charter School. “We’re very happy to receive this recognition and support from the Marin Community Foundation.”

A nature-based perspective is integrated throughout the Novato Charter School curriculum, especially in the school’s organic gardening and recycling programs. The program is based on the belief that nature serves as the common ground for all cultures, and that respect for the earth encourages social responsibility, as well as environmentally conscious living.

The Novato Charter School gardening program has also received a $7,000 grant from the Chez Panisse Foundation to fund a new greenhouse and a $500 grant from SEED to support gardening expansion.

For more information about Novato Charter School, call 883-4254 or visit their web site at www.novatocharterschool.org.

Contact: Rachael Bishop, Director, Novato Charter School at 415.883.4254