This fall the California Department of Education distributed $11 million to support school garden programs as a key component of nutrition education, the Tri-Valley Herald reports. Officials awarded the funds under the $15 million Instructional School Garden bill and will issue the remaining $4 million to additional applicants next fall. Among the recipients, 100 Oakland schools will each receive $2,500 for garden programs. To qualify schools must demonstrate that at least half of their students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches. According to a member of the Oakland Garden Advisory Council, building a basic school garden costs at least $2,000, in addition to ongoing maintenance expenses. He adds that schools often must rely on donations collected through fundraisers and volunteer workers to sustain the gardens, noting that district involvement is crucial for implementing school gardens  (Chu, Tri-Valley Herald, 12/17/07).