EducationalMasthead
In This Issue
EarthBox in Our Communities
EarthBox in Our Schools
EarthBox in Our World
Fresh from the Forum
FYI Tips
About EarthBox
EarthBox in Our Communities:
Brick City Urban Farms
Recently, citizens of Newark, New Jersey banded together to create Brick City Urban Farms, a "grass-roots" gardening project that makes extensive use of EarthBox technology. It's a classic example of the way that EarthBoxes have become the go-to solution to the problem of soil contamination in urban areas.
 
newark mayor
Newark Mayor Corey Booker at Brick City
 
John Taylor, Mayor Corey Booker's half-brother, started the farm project with the help of a team of local volunteers. Taylor originally found out about EarthBoxes at a Whole Foods Store.  
 
Brick City Urban Farms uses the boxes in concert with Small Plot Intensive (SPIN) farming principles, which allow growers to profit from plots less than an acre in size. The fenced-in, half-acre farm site is located across from Lincoln Park, on land loaned by the Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District.

Plans for future growth include acquiring more land for next season, and, in time, making the Farm's presence felt in each of Newark's five wards. Among other things, planners are working on a business plan aimed at transforming the Brick City endeavor into a profitable enterprise. They envision a fully commercial farm that provides Newarkers with fresh, locally-grown vegetables.
 
Their next goal is to determine how to better sell and distribute that produce. So far, lucky residents have gotten the fruits of their labors for just $5 a bag. Next year, the Brick City farmers are planning to start a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program and are considering establishing a farm stand.

This is good news for Newark, where affordable produce is hard to find. Residents often have to seek fresh fruits and vegetables elsewhere; in fact, according to a recent survey, almost 40 percent of Newark's grocery dollars leave the city.
Monthly Drawing For Free EarthBox Ready To Grow Kit! 
 
Educators, we want to support you in every way we can. One way we show our appreciation for you is with our monthly drawing for a FREE EarthBox Ready To Grow Kit.

To be eligible for this random drawing, just enter the Source Code EDUDISC when placing an order. We'll announce each monthly winner in an upcoming education newsletter.
 
Good Luck!

Our February 2009 random drawing winner was  Melissa Varady, who teaches kindergarten at Micanopy Area Cooperative School in Micanopy, Florida.  Here's what Melissa had to say when she learned of her win:
 
teacher with kids 2
Ms. Varady and her students with their EarthBoxes
 
"I am already so excited about our EarthBox Garden plans which include growing out crops for a community Farmer's Market. Now, we will have even more produce. Thank you so much, EarthBox!"
 
Thank you, Melissa!
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Send Us Your Photos and
Success Stories!
 

We'd love to hear from you! Please email your photos and stories to [email protected].

To place an order, call
888-445-6295 (24/7)
or visit our
online store.
 
Educators, please mention the Source Code EDUDISC when ordering your EarthBox to be eligible for a free EarthBox Ready to Grow Kit! Winners will be selected from our customer base and announced in each newsletter. 
Greetings!
 
Welcome to Issue #2 of By the Box! This time, we feature a topic near and dear to our hearts: urban gardening. We've also got some outstanding examples of the ways that EarthBoxes are being used in schools and around the world, and of course we've included some intriguing tips for you to ponder.  
 
Oh, and by the way: we've chosen our first winner in the Educators' Monthly Drawing. Check out her story, and be sure to keep using that Educator's Source Code when ordering. You could be the next lucky winner!

Happy Gardening,  
Molly's Signature 
Molly Philbin
Education Director
EarthBox, Inc.
EarthBox in Our Schools 
Anne's Classroom
 
Our EarthBox Education products have allowed Florida teacher Anne Cruickshank maximum flexibility in her middle school science programs. Anne teaches hands-on science in the classroom using the two EarthBox Ready to Grow Kits, along with the correlated standards-based lesson plans from the EarthBox Middle School Support Curriculum. Working outdoors with the EarthBoxes enables students to learn horticultural skills, and to eat the nutritious produce they grow.
 
Ann classroom
 
Anne has also developed Service Learning components that connect students to their community by incorporating issues of global and local hunger into the program. Recently, the children tended 16 EarthBoxes, and donated the harvested produce to a local soup kitchen.  
 
As a result of this project, Florida's branch of Agriculture in the Classroom named Anne the "Ag in the Classroom" Middle School Teacher for 2006. Congrats, Anne!
EarthBox in Our World 
TGC in Nicaragua
 
The Growing Connection (TGC) has grown by leaps and bounds in Nicaragua. In 2005, thanks to a generous donation from Florida businessman Cy Bispham, TGC began working with 4,000 students in 34 trial EarthBox vegetable gardens through partnerships with the Food & Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Instituto de Promoci�n Humana (INPRHU), and Asociaci�n Familia Padre Fabretto. 
 
nicaraguaToday Fabretto manages all the TGC gardens in Nicaragua, and has introduced students to a number of complementary activities, ranging from composting to international communication. Computer knowledge allows students to use email and other Internet tools to find immediate garden solutions, and to evaluate best practices from peers around the world. 
 
Produce harvested in the school gardens is served in the cafeterias for lunch, and seeds from the gardens are brought home to be planted. Parents tend the gardens when school is not in session, learning valuable lessons to apply to their own farms and family plots. 
 
TGC continues to promote innovative solutions to chronic malnutrition and poverty around the world. Students, individuals, and communities are improving their own nutrition and well-being by growing vegetables using intensive production methods and learning from the experience of others via the Internet. Click here to learn more about TGC!
 
 
Fresh from the Forum 
A Fascinating Comparison
 
Education ForumDid you know that your EarthBox garden may respond better to rainwater than to the water from your tap? It's true! Take a look at this post in the Educational section of the Forum to get an idea of the power of rainwater, and how to harness it for your garden.
FYI Tips
  
We've got two hot items for you this time, folks!
 
FYI, did you know that there are all kinds of education conferences coming up in the next few months? Here's a sampling for April:
 
National Afterschool Association Conference (NAA); April 2-4, in New Orleans, LA 
 
National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP); April 3-6, New Orleans, LA
 
National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA); April 13-17, San Diego, CA
 
Also FYI, we'd like to invite you to get involved with the The Great Sunflower Project. Help the bees, add beauty to your garden, and learn about agriculture all at the same time! This project addresses the challenges facing bees by collecting data from citizen scientists across the U.S. Sign up online to request your free seeds today! For more information, visit www.greatsunflower.org.
About EarthBox 
 
The patented EarthBox was developed by commercial farmers, and proven in the lab and on the farm. Our maintenance-free, award-winning, high-tech growing system controls soil conditions, eliminates guesswork, and more than doubles the yield of a conventional garden -- with less fertilizer, less water and virtually no effort. It's used successfully on a daily basis by commercial farmers, educators, and consumers. Distributors are also finding it to be a popular growing system.
 
EarthBox is a remarkably easy-to-set-up system that can be used to grow produce virtually anywhere. Our systems have been incorporated into community gardens all over the world, enabling families and neighbors to share fresh produce, while minimizing work and expenses.
 
EarthBoxes also make excellent additions to the classroom. Our Pre-K through 12th grade standards-based curriculum support packages can bring science to life, with hands-on lessons that teach principles of growing and nutrition utilizing the scientific method in student-driven experiments.

To find out more about EarthBox's education programs, visit www.earthbox.com/education
EarthBox� 1350 Von Storch Avenue � Scranton, PA 18509 � 1-888-445-6295