On October 1, 2009, a final grant report was submitted to the Elizabeth Schultz Environmental Fund (ESEF) at the Douglas County Community Foundation. An ESEF grant, awarded in late 2008, established the Okanis Garden, a collaborative project of partners Prairie Moon Waldorf School and Citizens for Responsible Planning (CRP). The Okanis market garden was developed on the school grounds, rated Capability Class 1 agricultural soils. The garden now serves as an outdoor classroom for a newly developed nature curriculum. The garden succeeded with every proposed goal, including educating about soils and water, selling produce to local grocery stores and restaurants, providing school snacks and lunches, appearing at the Downtown Lawrence Farmers’ Market, and becoming a featured farm on the Kaw Valley Farm Tour. The Okanis Garden is unique in that it combines soil science, the local food movement, and the emphasis on nature in Waldorf education. The grant funded a part-time garden manager position and utilized volunteers from Prairie Moon and CRP. It also provided the funds to purchase garden tools and hardware such as a kitchen scale for weighing produce for sale at market and to Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) customers. Thank you, Beth Schultz!
