Sign on by August 15 to support $25 million for school gardens

Despite SB 341 being stalled in appropriations in May, the momentum behind the bill has continued to open doors for us to pursue new funding pathways! We have 2 immediate opportunities for you and updates to share!

Sign on to support $25M for School Gardens

Both of these letters request funding for California's Instructional School Garden Program (ISGP) that SB 341 seeked to revive and revise.

1. Letter #1: Cap-and-Trade Reauthorization (2030-2045), 1% For Education!: We're asking for 1% of California's Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to support environmental literacy programs, with $25M specifically for the California Instructional School Garden Program (ISGP). This represents a transformative, long-term investment that recognizes education as a foundational strategy for achieving lasting carbon reductions.
2. Letter #2: Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund Budget Request (2025-26): We're requesting $25M for from the 2025-26 GGRF New Proposals line item to reactivate the ISGP, with a focus on fresh food education and reducing food-related GHG emissions through behavior change. This is a pathway that could result in 500,000 California students participating in outdoor, experiential learning, garden-based activities, which serves as a more immediate approach to reducing carbon.

👉 SIGN YOUR ORGANIZATION ONTO BOTH LETTERS

Deadline: Friday, August 15, 2025

Both Letters:

• Emphasize the ISGP as a cost-effective strategy for environmental literacy and for carbon reduction through food choices.
• Name the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) as the ISGP administrator, effectively moving the program from the California Department of Education.
• Add instruction and maintenance to the ISGP.

👉 Check out this flier for more information!

Your support demonstrates that the coalition behind SB 341 remains strong and unified in pursuing every available pathway to fund school gardens! Please share with your networks!

Updates

1. We continue to meet with our partners at CDFA’s Office of Farm to School to share perspectives and explore collaborations.
2. We invite you to join the 2026 Advocacy Day Planning Committee that will kick off soon.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Fund Our Future

Funding allows the coalition to benefit greatly from an advocacy campaign manager, who has provided invaluable support to our efforts. Please consider a small contribution with one of these annual membership levels to ensure stable momentum through the end of the year:

• Seedling Partner: $1,000-$2,500 - Recognition on website and materials, coalition meeting participation
• Growing Partner: $2,500-$5,000 - Above benefits plus acknowledgment in legislative briefings and opportunities to contribute to implementation strategy
• Harvest Partner: $5,000+ - All benefits plus featured organizational spotlight and advisory role for the working group

We welcome contributions of any size and are happy to discuss customized partnership opportunities. Contact: Vicki Moore, Founder, Living Classroom and Leadership Team Member, School Garden Coalition

All the best,

On behalf of the California School Garden Coalition Leadership Team