School Garden Projects
- Inspiring School
Garden Projects - Leading Projects and
Curricula Resources - National Movements
and Organizations - Upcoming Conferences
and Events - Scholarships and
Opportunities
Inspiring School Garden Projects
The future of food, farming and community is coming to life in school gardens across the nation and the world. The valuable lessons of conservation, cooperation and sustainability are being learned in these open-air classrooms, and the children, teachers, parents and communities involved are an inspiration to us all.
School gardens promote good health, good nutrition, good food, strong communities, a respect for the farmers, and strong ties to the land that sustains us all -- whether it's in a reclaimed empty lot in an urban setting, or a donated field in a rural area!
Here, you can read real-life stories about how school gardening programs are instilling children and their communities with a sense of purpose and a renewed interest in being personally involved in how their food is produced.
Click a link below to read about a school garden project!
| Project | Description |
|---|---|
A courageous urban garden project helps build a sustainable future for a community. Watch the wonderful video that shows that school gardens make a big difference in a community! |
|
See how a landmark project built one-acre garden and kitchen classroom into a model school garden program, giving urban kids the opportunity to grow, harvest, prepare and enjoy nutritious seasonal produce! Take an online tour of the garden and read the garden journal! |
|
Read about a group that travels to schools teaching children to plant fruit trees and learn communication and cooperation skills. Find out how planting trees helps children reconnect with the earth! |
|
The Garden of Wonders Food and Garden Education Program involves students in the stewardship of the school’s organic garden and landscape in a way that is wholly integrated with the school’s curriculum. With a focus of Education, Wellness and Community Building, this garden is growing more than food! Read more about this wonderful school garden program in Detroit, MI! |
|
| Brookside School Farm | Brookside Farm is a 1 acre, certified organic, Community Supported Agriculture and education site at Brookside Elementary School in Willits, CA. The elementary school serves K-2 grades, and Head Start preschools are also on the campus, and the farm distributes fresh produce to area residents and school cafeterias! Read the blog, see the photos, and get information on how to do it all! |
School Garden Leaders and Curricula Resources
Are you interested in starting a school garden project in your school or community? Check out our list of resources for ideas, information, inspiration, books, curricula, supplies and plans.
We'll add more to the list as we find them, and if you have a good source for school garden information that you don't see here, please send it to us so we can share it with other readers!
Resources |
|---|
The Edible Schoolyard: www.edibleschoolyard.org
|
|
|
The School Garden Project of Lane County: http://www.efn.org/~sgp/
|
National School Gardening Movements
You can get involved in the effort to promote school garden programs and healthy school food across the nation and the world!
Click a link below to read more about a project or movement.
We'll add more links as we find them, and if you are a part of an effort to promote school garden programs
or projects and want to get the word out to others, please let us know about it so we can post a link here!
Project |
Information |
|---|---|
The National Farm to School Network |
A collaborative project of the Center for Food & Justice (CFJ), a division of the Urban & Environmental Policy Institute at Occidental College and the Community Food Security Coalition (CFSC). From just a handful in the late 1990’s, Farm to School programs have spread to approximately 400 in 2004, 1,000 in 2007 and over 2,000 in 2009 spanning 40 states. Website: www.farmtoschool.org |
Support Michele Obama's Movement for Healthy Food in Schools |
Go to http://fdn.actionkit.com/cms/sign/michelles_bold_move/?akid=79.57672.co19kl&rd=1&t=5 and sign the petition! |
A National Campaign to Give Kids the School Food They Deserve |
The Time for Lunch campaign is a project of Slow Food USA, an educational non-profit with the goal of creating a world in which everyone can enjoy food that is good, clean and fair. This year, they're asking parents, teachers and every responsible citizen to speak up and tell Congress that change can’t wait: It's time to provide our children with REAL FOOD at school. To get involved go to: http://www.slowfoodusa.org/index.php/campaign/time_for_lunch/ |
Upcoming Conferences, Seminars and Other Events
Learn, share your knowledge and get in touch with other people interested the school gardening movement by attending a conference or workshop on the subject.
Click a link below to get details about an event.
We'll add more links as we find them, and if you want to recommend a conference about school gardening or a related subject, please write to us about it so we can post a link here!
Event |
Information |
|---|---|
The National Farm to Cafeteria Conference: Taking Root May 17-19, 2010 Detroit, MI |
Hosted by: National Farm to School Network; Community Food Security Coalition; Urban & Environmental Policy Institute at Occidental College; and Center for Food & Justice (UEPI). For more information visit their website at: www.farmtocafeteriaconference.org |
2010 Calendar of Events from the Center for Ecoliteracy |
Conferences, talks and seminars. Includes: |
2010 Calendar of Events from the Life Lab |
Workshops Sowing the Seeds of Wonder: Discovering the Garden in Early Childhood Education The Growing Classroom Plant It, Grow It, Eat It! For more information, visit their website: http://www.lifelab.org/events.php Also, for professional development resources, http://www.lifelab.org/professional.php |
Scholarships and Opportunities
Learning a new skill takes time, and often takes money as well! Luckily, there are resources out there that can help you. Check out the list of scholarships and opportunities in school gardening below.
We'll add more links as we find them, and if you know of a scholarship or opportunity in school garden projects, please write to us about it so we can post a link here!
Scholarships and Opportunities |
|---|
The Center for Ecoliteracy: Scholarships for California School Teachers The Center for Ecoliteracy is pleased to announce the availability of scholarships for California public school teachers to attend the Center's summer seminar, Schooling for Sustainability: Strategies That Make Teaching and Learning Come Alive. Available scholarships include:
Preference will be given to educators who apply as part of a team. Deadline: Friday, April 30, 2010. |