Take action and share: sign on to the $25 million school garden budget request

Advocacy Day Update: We are waiving the registration fee for 10 people to use this code when registering: VOLUNTEER100

This spring, we, the CA School Garden Coalition, are asking every champion in our network to support our $25 million budget request for school garden-based instruction statewide, championed by Senator Sasha Renee Perez. This investment would reach an additional ~500,000 students across ~50 school districts, at roughly $50 per student per year through the Farm to School Program. With Farm to School funding cut by 67% compared to previous years and the loss of ~$132 million in federal SNAP-Ed nutrition education, this request addresses a real and growing gap.

How You Can Help Right Now

Visit the How You Can Help section of our advocacy page for full details:

1. Sign on to the letter of support to show your organization's backing for the $25M budget request by April 3. The more signatories we have, the stronger our ask.
2. Register for FREE for Advocacy Day: Join us in Sacramento on April 9-10 at the Capitol to meet with legislators, share your story, and build momentum for this funding request. We are waiving the registration fee for 10 people to use this code when registering: VOLUNTEER100. Here's what to expect:
   1. Day 1 (April 9) 11:30 AM - 4:30 PM: Preparation, training, and coordination
   2. Day 2 (April 10) 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM: Legislative office meetings at the Capitol, with a showcase event to demonstrate the power of school garden education
   3. Whether you're a seasoned advocate or a first-timer, we'll equip you with everything you need. Kids encouraged!
   4. We are seeking volunteers to support day-of logistics. If you/your organization can lend staff time or volunteer hours, please email ca-school-garden-leads@growingtogetherprojects.org.
   5. Sponsor Advocacy Day to help fund the event (tiers: Heirloom $1,000 | Pollinator $500 | Seedling $250). Contact Vicki Moore for details.
3. Share this with your networks! Forward this email to at least two people, share our advocacy webpage, and use the attached Communications Toolkit to spread the word through your newsletters, social media, and community contacts.
4. Check if your legislators are key to this $25M request. If you are a constituent within any of these legislative districts (#5), please let us know, so we can coordinate outreach. Find your representatives here.

Thank you for being part of this movement! The window for this budget request is now, and every voice matters. Whether you can join us in Sacramento, sign on to the letter, share with your networks, or connect us with key contacts, your support makes a difference.

We'll continue to share updates as the legislative process unfolds.

All the best,

Linda Livers

On behalf of the California School Garden Coalition Leadership Team