Plenty Belize’s Garden-based Agriculture for Toledo’s Environment (GATE) Program continues to set the standard in Belize for school gardening programs. Eighteen Primary Schools have their gardens growing, and we will be helping the school in the village of San Antonio start their garden in the upcoming months! About two-thirds of these gardens are producing fresh food for the children to eat, improving their nutrition and food security. The other schools are still struggling with food production, and we are working with them on overcoming problems with pests, poor soils and financial constraints. The project is popular with teachers who are noticing an improvement in their students’ general health and level of attention in class.

Planning is now underway for a Teacher Training Workshop on 6 January 2006. This workshop is meant to assist the primary school teachers in developing the knowledge and skills they need to help make sure their school garden programs are successful and educational.

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