For many years, Montgomery Middle STEAM Magnet School in Linda Vista has been the recipient of nutrition workshops and school garden support, and has been involved in annual cooking contests and selling their own produce at the Linda Vista Farmers Market. This year the school is now doing its part toward landfill diversion by creating a Café to Compost program. In partnership with the school district’s food services and recycling departments, the Montgomery garden coordinator, biology students trained in proper composting methods, and a University of San Diego work study student, we began coordination of moving leftover salad bar produce to the school garden instead of the trash. Waste data collection is recorded on a scale provided by the San Diego Unified School District to weigh the contents before they are transferred to the garden. Food waste – usually representing over 8 pounds per day – is then transferred to the garden bins, and worms added to the bins accelerate the composting process. School staff requested this piloted program to initially run one day per week, with more days in the next school year. However, even with a once per week frequency since the program’s onset in February, approximately 130 pounds of salad greens will have been diverted to the school garden this school year!
