1. From Farm to table: Starting a School Garden
Kayla Worker
2016 Connections Conference
Springfield Southeast High School
Springfield, Illinois

2. Learning About Gardening

3. Why Start a School Garden?
Help students understand where their food comes from
Gain hands-on experience in growing food
Expand knowledge of different types of produce and herbs
Easily incorporate science and math into lessons
Use fresher, higher quality produce in cooking classes
Increase the likelihood of students trying unfamiliar food
Teach lifelong skills
It’s fun!

5. What You Need to Start What you need to start a garden
Permission from your school
Land
A water source
Adequate sunlight
A “champion”
Things that make growing easier
Raised beds
Compost

6. Getting the Word Out Send out a school-wide email
Request to have information posted about it on your district’s website
Talk to your school’s PTO and Boosters Club
Invite the neighbors
Talk to local politicians
Get the community involved
Make a Facebook group

7. Grants Corporate Business Grants Education Grants Environmental Grants
Lowe’s Toolbox for Education
Walmart Community Grant Program/Sam’s Club Community Grant Program
Education Grants
The NEA Foundation Student Achievement Grants
Environmental Grants
Captain Planet
Garden Grants
SeedMoney
Whole Foods Foundation Garden Grant
Health Related Grants
Action for Healthy Kids School Grants for Healthy Kids

8. Additional Donors School Community PTO Booster’s Club Parents
Private parties
TV or radio stations
Small businesses

9. Budget

10. Get Help from the Professionals
University of Illinois Extension
Local Gardeners
Healthy Initiative Programs

11. Garden Workers Ideas for labor sources:
Incorporate the garden into a Family and Consumer Science, Agriculture, Science, Health, Business, Math, Work Program, or Special Education class
Partner with an afterschool program
Partner with a neighborhood church
Entice your workers to keep coming back by giving them lots of praise and free access to the food produced.
Have two predetermined “work days” a week

12. Extension Ideas Garden club Cooking classes Greenhouse Flower garden
Compost
Beehives
Business

13. Contact Information and Resources
Kayla Worker –
Follow my garden blog or Google “KaylaWorker WordPress”
Central IL – genHkids genh.org
Follow them on Facebook at “Generation Healthy Kids”
Andy Heck from Small Axe Markey Gardens
Check out the Illinois Farm to School Network illinoisfarmtoschool.org