The Grimm Family Education Foundation
is a non-profit based in Bakersfield, California.
Working with students, teachers, and parents, the Foundation supports
initiatives to improve education and wellness in Kern County.
Grimm Family Education Foundation Mission:
Through our charter schools and Edible Schoolyards, we will close the achievement gap, graduating students at or above grade level in literacy and math, improve the health of students and families and create economic impact in the communities that we serve.
to encourage children in their discovery and development of a healthy relationship with the food they eat.
Modeled after the pioneering work of
Alice Waters + the Edible Schoolyard Project
in Berkeley, California ...
The Foundation created
To create and sustain an organic garden and learning kitchen that is integrated into the school’s curriculum and culture.
Our hands-on
garden and kitchen lessons
teach students the values of:
◦ environmental stewardship
◦ seasonality
◦ personal expression
◦ active learning
◦ collaboration and cooperation
◦ nourishment of self, family and community
The Edible Schoolyard provides a hands-on learning, sensory experience to students through garden and kitchen classrooms.
Academic concepts are brought to life, and students are able to make the connections between food, the environment and wellness.
We encourage students to
explore and awaken their senses to the world around them and to enjoy and appreciate food through seed to table education.
Dylan Wilson
Program Manager
"My grandmother understood that the future of food was in the hands of my generation. Nanny Jan, passed the skills and passion of the seed to table cycle down to me. These lessons inspire me to lead the Edible Schoolyard Kern County into the future of Edible Education with a passionate team of educators."
John Vidaurreta
Garden Programs
Administrator
"Through farming and gardening, I developed a passion for growing plants and the environment in which they live. To have the opportunity to pass on my knowledge and encourage students to explore,
understand and work with nature is very rewarding."
Marshall Dietrich
Garden Education Administrator
"My first summer job was picking grapes in Delano. I loved being outside and working with my hands. The taste of afresh grape off the vine is second to none."
Hannah Bucher
Kitchen Programs
Administrator
"My passion in life is cooking healthy and delicious meals for my family and friends and encouraging others to cook at home. BVESY allows me to continue promoting healthy eating habits and teaching children the skills they need to live a healthy and productive lifestyle."
Raj Cheshire
Operations Coordinator/Mobile Kitchen Classroom Teacher + Driver
"My zeal for organic, whole food nutrition started as an adult in an attempt to heal my body from various ailments. I started on this path about 6 years ago and have never looked back. It is such a blessing to have the opportunity to be on the front lines of teaching kids how to prepare nutrient dense foods to fuel their bodies. These are skills they will hone in on for the rest of their lives."
Elizabeth Rovnak
Lead Garden Educator
Buena Vista
Kevin Richard
Garden Educator
Buena Vista
My interest in gardening began with a passion for cooking delicious organic cuisine using healthy whole food ingredients. I wanted the best ingredients to cook with, so I learned how to organically grow the most nutritious and delicious produce possible. It now gives me great excitement to be able to share these skill and interests with young students and the local community.
Ben Leman
Garden Educator
Buena Vista
Growing up I was in Boy Scouts and was fortunate enough to go camping and exploring in a variety of environments. It taught me an appreciation and curiosity for the natural world and I love to be able to pass that on to our students. I think it is of vital importance to expose our kids to a healthy and sustainable way to grow and eat food.
Tiffany August
Garden Educator + Kitchen Educator
Buena Vista
Jesus Calderon
Lead Garden Educator
Grimmway Academy Arvin
"Growing up in rural Mexico I developed a passion for gardening and farming at an early age. I remember the joy that I felt when I harvested my first radish. I am overjoyed to have the opportunity to share my knowledge and experience with all of my students."
Juan Garcia
Garden Educator
Grimmway Academy Arvin
I enjoyed gardening with my father from a very young age. I also went to school to be a teacher and when I was presented the opportunity to combine both facets in the Edible Schoolyard I was ecstatic to be able to share a passion for gardening all while achieving my dream of becoming an educator.
Garrett Pierce
Lead Garden Educator
Grimmway Academy Shafter
"In college, I learned how to farm fish, and ended up learning how to grow produce in the same system that the fish were in. Fish or no fish, working in a garden with the sole purpose to teach wellness and responsibility is a job I look forward to attending every day."
Maddie Reynolds
Garden Educator
Grimmway Academy Shafter
"I grew up in Kern County surrounded by agriculture but didn't have much knowledge about it until I went to school. I'm thankful for the opportunity to teach students in Kern County the importance of agriculture as well as the impact their home town has in the agriculture industry."
Vanessa Ghilarducci
Garden Educator
Grimmway Academy Shafter
"I have a passion for health and cooking. This fed my desire to have my own organic garden for the last decade, and enjoy the sweeter flavors of a ripe harvest. I'm happy to share these amazing flavors and gardening skills with the scholars at Grimmway Academy Shafter."
Garden Educator
Grimmway Academy Arvin
Juan Garcia
Garden Educator
Grimmway Academy Arvin
Juan Garcia
Garden Educator
Grimmway Academy Arvin
Juan Garcia
Garden Educator
Grimmway Academy Arvin
Mary Mendenhall
Lead Kitchen Educator
Buena Vista
"In my home, friends and family have gathered around the table for food, fun and fellowship for years. Food has a way of bringing people together to share hopes, dreams, struggles and secrets. I love that we can start sharing this wonderful experience with the children at the Edible Schoolyard."
Pricila Hernandez
Kitchen Educator
Buena Vista
"I grew up surrounded by home cooked meals, cookbooks and a garden at home. My love for food was deeply rooted at a very young age and it is a joy to be able to share that with my students."
Jordin Whitbey
Kitchen Educator
Buena Vista
I am very passionate about agriculture, education and the process of bridging the gap between farm to table. Food is the result of tireless efforts that has the power to bring people together. I am blessed with the opportunity to be part of the Edible Schoolyard and share my love of agriculture and food with students.
Serena Martinez
Lead Kitchen Educator
Grimmway Academy Arvin
"I have always had a passion for cooking. To see students at such a young age showing the same passion and love in the Kitchen is really exciting."
Lupe Martinez
Kitchen Educator
Grimmway Academy Arvin
"The wonderful smells coming from my mother's kitchen, the love, care and warmth she put into every dish. This is one of my most cherished memories, my reason for loving the kitchen. I love that I can share my passion for food with my students."
Molly Sowers
Lead Kitchen Educator
Grimmway Academy Shafter
"I grew up in a family of restauranteurs who instilled my love for cooking and an appreciation for creative use of ingredients at a very young age. I love that the Edible Schoolyard provides a place for our students to experiment with locally grown produce and learn life skills in garden and kitchen settings that promote health and wellness - all of which are so necessary for the sustainability of our entire community!"
Geoffrey Taylor
Kitchen Educator
Grimmway Academy Shafter
Kitchen Educator
Grimmway Academy Shafter
I am passionate about sharing food literacy and wellness with students in meaningful ways. This experience comes from working in urban and rurual schools with high rates of food insecurity, chronic health issues associated with poor diet and limited access to fresh, healthy and nutritious foods in thes communities.
Sarah Nicks
Kitchen Educator
Grimmway Academy Arvin
"As a part of the Future Farmers of America in high school, I fell in love with both Agriculture Education and Ag in the Classroom. I love that the Edible Schoolyard students learn not only where their food comes from, but are also inspired to think beyond the classroom and explore nature."
