Many Forsyth County Schools have gardens on their campuses. School gardens offer hands-on outdoor learning opportunities, improve student wellbeing, and provide living laboratories for learning across disciplines. To become part of the school gardens team or start a garden at your school, please contact the Community Gardening Program Coordinator.
See the resources below for school garden support organizations, curriculum and activities.
Extension Resources- Building Gardens. Building Minds.: solid foundation for school garden establishment, development and program growth, 2.5 CEUs, $35
- Grow for It Site: NC State Extension resources for gardening with kids
- Plants for Human Health Institute: Equipping teachers to integrate curriculum standards in the edible classroom. Check out their site for garden curriculum, overcoming barriers to school gardening, and social-emotional learning topics
- NC Local Foods: curriculum, lesson plans and resources from NC State Extension's Local Foods program
- Junior Master Gardener: Curriculum and guidebooks for purchase
- Cornell Garden-Based Learning: Program tools, citizen science prompts, curriculum and lessons
Other Organizations, Resources, and Model Programs
- SEEDS NC: Model program from a two-acre urban garden and kitchen classroom in the heart of Durham
- ASAP’s Growing Minds Farm to School: An extensive library of free lessons and activities in the garden and the kitchen for preschool through elementary-aged kids.
- Life Lab: California-based organization cultivating children's love of learning, healthy food, and nature through garden-based education.
- School Garden Support Organization Network: Sharing resources and encouraging dialogue among school garden professionals.
- The Food Project: Massachusetts-based organization that empowers and equips youth leaders, grows and distributes fresh, healthy, affordable food in the city and the suburbs.
- Safety Guidelines for Working with Youth in Gardens
