GroWORKS is designed to cultivate Learning Works Charter School’s open land to teach middle and high school students about caring for an inner-city garden. GroWORKS, which is integrated into school curriculum, teaches the benefits of nutrition, enhances career opportunities and inspires creativity. GroWORKS is located just east of the artWORKS building, and is part of a generous lease provided by Victoria Rusnak of the Rusnak Auto Group. Our community partners include: Pasadena Garden Club, Home Depot, Ganahl Lumber and Lowes.

GroWORKS is a community garden program which helps Learning Works students experience the outdoors and learn about how food is grown. Our students are paid $10 for participating in a two-hour class every Tuesday and on Fridays, working with a Master Gardener and Chaser. They also receive partial school credit. Students from any school are welcome to join us and volunteer in our garden on Tuesdays and Fridays.

GroWORKS connects our school to the community by:

• Creating curriculum-aligned projects and labs in environmental science, biology, and health.
• Hands-on learning about careers in horticulture, landscape/garden design, culinary arts and business.
• Using produce from the garden to create healthy dishes for nutrition and cooking classes.
•  Providing professional development for teachers and staff to create academic, relevant curriculum.