An accessible school garden is one that gives all students an opportunity to participate in its activities. While this brief offers general suggestions for garden design, bed styles, tools, practices, and preparation that will help a garden serve as an inclusive setting, remember that communicating with children, their caregivers, and experienced school personnel will best create a garden where all children can comfortably and safely grow, play, and learn. Download Brief »
Supporting Youth Gardens with Master Gardener Volunteers
As youth gardens continue to gain widespread popularity, the need for knowledgeable, community-minded volunteers is also on the rise. Extension educators can play an important role by coordinating Master Gardener Volunteers (MGVs) to fill this need. The mission of Master Gardener Volunteer programs is to train MGVs to become community volunteers who help people understand horticulture and the environment and perform horticulture-related work for their communities. This publication provides Extension educators and school garden coordinators with tips for creating mutually beneficial relationships between MGVs and school gardens, so that both come away asking for more! Download Brief »
Connecting the School Garden to the Cafeteria
Bringing school garden produce into the school cafeteria can be a win-win: food service staff find a local source of fresh produce and students enjoy the bounty that they helped plant and harvest. With proper attention to food safety, both in the garden and in the cafeteria, students are able to see their food change from seed, to plant, to lunch! Download Brief »
Connecting the Child Care Garden to the Table
A garden at your early childhood center will not only grow delicious fruits and vegetables, but it will also grow healthier children! Youth gardens offer early childhood sites access to fresh produce and offer children opportunities to plant, care for, and taste a variety of fruits and vegetables. In this document, you will learn the benefits of youth gardens and the measures to take to keep your students and your garden healthy and growing! Download Brief »
Telling Your Garden Story
Every garden is ripe with stories. Maybe it is one about the day the first shovel-full of soil was turned over and the garden was underway. Or about that time a brave rabbit dared to sample lettuce amidst a class of kindergartners partaking in a garden lesson. Each story has the potential to connect others with your garden and garden program. This brief offers tips for collecting and sharing the garden stories that make your garden program so special. Download Brief »
