School Gardens play a critical role in supporting Farm to School initiatives. Providing students with hands-on experience growing healthy food increases nutritional preference for fresh fruits and vegetables while also supporting the S.T.E.A.M curriculum.

School Gardens Online Course

To learn more about starting or maintaining a school garden and its connection to Farm to School, enroll in the School Garden Course! The registration link is below. 

Course Details:

• Registration Date: February 3rd – February 28th
• Start Date: March 3, 2025 (ends June 6, 2025)
• Cost: $50 per participant
• Format: Self-paced / Asynchronous online
• Course time: 5 + hours of content

For questions or more information, contact Remi Ham, Farm to School Extension Specialist, at raham@ncsu.edu.Course objectives include:

• Outlining strategies to start a school garden and developing a garden team
• Describe school garden design principles and developing engaging spaces
• Identify suggested crops and plants for your school garden
• Establishing food safety and outdoor classroom management strategies
• Outlining curriculum connections to the school garden
• Recognizing methods to sustain your school garden
• Describe how to start a garden in special circumstances