Gardens are key to getting kids to eat healthy and local food – especially when linked to other “edible education” activities such as indoor seed starting, cooking, and tasting activities. Much of the education in these settings is experiential, so the potential for hands-on growing and working with real whole local foods is enormous. Time outside in gardens can help young children establish a healthy relationship not only with food, but with the biological environment around them.
Learn more about preschool gardens in the links below:
Starting a Preschool Garden
- If you don’t have a garden onsite now, and can’t start one yet, visit a nearby community or school garden. (Durango school gardens and community gardens.)
- Ideas for Small Spaces and Small Gardeners in Colorado – our list of easy ways to start gardening with preschoolers
- How-To Garden Resources from HCFS and Grow Food Well
- Starting a Preschool Garden: A Menu of Options – Growing Gardens
- Preschool Gardens – Background & Resources from the National Farm to Preschool Network
- School Gardens – Slow Food USA
- Creating a Classroom Garden: Easy Steps for Teachers – Growing Minds Farm to School Program
- Plant List for Pre-K Gardens – Growing Minds Farm to School Program
Edible Education
- Edible Education Curriculum – our short list of the best resources we’ve found
- Wild School Gardens – teach environmental education, agroecology, and food sustainability
Funding Preschool Gardens
Sensory Gardens
- Early Introductions to Sensory Gardens: Infants and Toddlers – Growing Minds Farm to School Program
Using the Garden Harvest in Snacks & Meals
Incorporating Native American Foods & Lessons
- Native American Gardens – examples of gardens in Native communities
