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Living Library

Explore networks, guides, informational materials, and ideas to help your school garden program thrive. Use the search bar to find what you need!

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ex., “grant”

What is Hydroponics

The Garden

A one-minute introductory video explaining the basics of hydroponics.

Design Guidelines for Outdoor Classrooms and School Gardens

The Garden

This detailed OSSE guide includes a thorough list of garden site elements, location, and other site features like shade and accessibility.

Utilizing the School Garden

Student Experience

Illinois Extension offers a guide with the benefits & ideas for incorporating school garden programming into students' lives.

Effective Youth Engagement

Student Experience

This Cornell webpage offers a succinct overview of youth engagement strategies for school gardens.

Garden Classroom Management

Student Experience

This One Cool Earth guide offers practical strategies for managing students in outdoor learning environments.

30 Simple Garden-Based Activities

Student Experience

Developed by Washington Youth Gardens, this is a creative list of 30 activities to engage youth at all levels in the school garden!

Pick it, Try it, Like it

Student Experience

Pick it! Try it! Like it! Lesson plans are filled with tips for selecting, preparing, and preserving various fruits and vegetables.

Teens CAN: Comprehensive Food Literacy

Student Experience

Teens CAN: Comprehensive Food Literacy in Cooking, Agriculture, and Nutrition includes three curricula and is designed for grades 9-12.

Food Smarts Waste Reduction for Kids

Student Experience

This evidence-based curriculum uses workshops with elementary and middle school-aged kids to promote food waste reduction and healthy eating.

Junior Master Gardener Level 2

Student Experience

The Level Two JMG curriculum is designed for grades 6-8 and to align with various state standards.

Junior Master Gardener Level 1

Student Experience

The Level One JMG curriculum is designed for grades 3-5 and to align with various state standards.

Big Green

Resources & Support • The Garden • Student Experience • Culture & Community

A nonprofit offering grants and resources to build "Learning Gardens" and promote food literacy.

Starting a School Garden Program

Resources & Support • The Garden • Student Experience • Culture & Community

KidsGardening offers webpages & downloadable pdfs covering administrative support, committee development, funding, and more!

UA Cooperative Extension - Master Gardeners

Resources & Support • The Garden

Learn about gardening to have the most successful and sustainable low-desert gardens.

Recursos de jardinería

Resources & Support • The Garden

Recursos en español para la programación de Extensión Cooperativa (Pima) en jardinería, paisajismo y participación familiar.

The Edible Schoolyard Project

Resources & Support • The Garden

This nonprofit is dedicated to transforming education using organic gardens, kitchens, and cafeterias.

Life Lab

Resources & Support • Student Experience

A national leader providing traning and curricula for garden-based education and outdoor classrooms.

Edible Schoolyard Educator Training

Resources & Support • Student Experience

This organization offers free online modules, videos, and virtual workshops on teaching in garden and kitchen classrooms.

Teacher Professional Development

Resources & Support • Student Experience

National Agriculture in the Classroom offer free professional development resources and a self‑paced, online certification for K–12 educators (cost: $25).

Junior Master Gardener Learn, Grow, Eat & Go Training

Resources & Support • Student Experience

This online, self-directed course trains teachers, volunteers and Extension to deliver the Learn, Grow, Eat & Go! Curriculum (cost: $52).

Join Our Community

Create a free account to access member-only training and tools, connect with other schools, and get virtual support.
The first 70 users who complete the training receive a $50 garden-themed gift card!

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