Terra Birds

Programs: School gardens-growing healthy food, habitat and kids. School garden program provides students and school communities with an engaging outdoor learning environment where young people can learn to use tools and practice creative problem solving as the urban land stewards of their school campus. Terra birds also gives logistical and project management support so that school gardens can be long term assets within a school. Educational projects include leading 2,000 students in 50 classes at 13 schools. School gardening enriches students and connects them to the ecosystems that surround them. Students transform themselves while transforming school grounds.

jobs program provided green collar employment, vocational and life skills development and on-the-job training for at-risk youth. In 2017 terra birds provided temporary jobs, mentorship and networking support to 19 young adults. A highlight this year was our expanded partnership with the coconino county board of supervisors and career centers youth jobs program called teen works. Partnered with teen works on 3 significant stewardship projects at the museum of northern az, izabel st. Community garden and a new community garden at the leupp chapter house.

community gardens provide flagstaffs urban gardners with a place to grow, harvest and learn together. Community gardens are an excellent place to meet the needs of flagstaff residents in a multitude of ways. Nearly 100 community gardeners participated in growing 1,076 pounds of food for themselves, their friends and their families. K-12 and college students came to the gardens to extend their learning and volunteered to construct beds, build soil, pull weeds and plant crops. Other organizations, businesses and individuals came together to work with students to tend communal beds that grew 306 lbs of potatoes, squash, corn, beans and herbs to donate to organizations in flagstaff that are working to alliviate hunger.

led several grafting workshops with 4th graders and 12th graders and a group of master gardeners, propagating apple trees from local genetic stock to be planted in school gardens and public spaces. Ponderosa hs students completed a meditation circle comprised of ancient masonry techniques, archaeoastronomy and rain water catchment. Annual field trip with partner grand canyon trust to kane ranch, an historic homestead and cattle ranch. Students volunteered trail work, campground improvements, and experienced living off the grid at a remote site. Terra birds donated over 550 lbs fresh produce to hunger relief organizations locally. Partnered with university of arizona cooperative extension office to plant cover crops at serveral of the school and community gardens.