School Gardens

We grow community around school gardens by providing technical assistance, resources and partnerships to cultivate the next generation of eaters of good, clean and fair food.

Good: Enjoying the pleasures of healthy, delicious food.
Clean: Food that is sustainably grown without chemical pesticides and fertilizers.
Fair: Producing food that respects economic and social justice.

Slow Food USA's National School Garden Program (NSGP) aims to reconnect youth with their food by teaching them how to grow, cook and enjoy real food. Current academic research confirms the positive effects school gardens have on children including: academic success, healthier consumption choices, better social and emotional behavior (garden therapy), and obesity prevention. By becoming informed eaters, today’s children will be healthier and help make a positive impact on the larger world of food and farming well into the future.

For more information, Slow Food USA has an ever-increasing collection of scholarly articles, stories, and resources on their website.

School Gardens in the Greater Seattle Area

We have approximately 45 school garden projects in the Greater Seattle Area. To see if your school has a garden, check out this interactive map from the Edible Schoolyard Project. If you are interested in starting a school garden in your neighborhood, Slow Food has access to curriculum, resources, volunteers and sometimes funding to help you with this important program. Please email us at info@slowfoodseattle.org.

School Garden Curriculum

Slow Food USA has developed excellent school garden curriculum for both Good Food and Clean Food. They are currently working on the third piece, Fair Food. To download the free curriculum or purchase a hard copy, click here.