School Gardens

Research/Report

Timothy P. Holloway, Lisa Dalton, Roger Hughes, Sisitha Jayasinghe, Kira A. E. Patterson, Sandra Murray, Robert Soward, Nuala M. Byrne, Andrew P. Hills, Kiran D. K. Ahuja

This article reviews different school garden-based interventions and discusses how a multi-pronged approach with these interventions can lead to better health and well-being for school-aged children.

Guide/Tool

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

This fact sheet provides examples of school gardens that have taken root and how they are being used to establish healthy eating habits, as educational tools in the classroom, and to promote community inclusion.

Case Study/Exemplar

Kate G. Burt, Pamela Koch, Claire Uno, & Isobel Contento

This report introduces the GREEN Tool, created to help integrate and sustain school gardens. Based on a study of NYC schools, it includes a Map of 19 key components and a Scorecard to track progress, offering guidance for effective garden programs and policy recommendations.

Guide/Tool

Cornell Garden-Based Learning

This toolkit guides users through the organizational aspects of a gardening program. It offers practical tools to help launch, sustain, expand, and evaluate gardening programs.

Guide/Tool

North Carolina Cooperative Extension

This guide details how to create a school garden, including planning, maintaining, and sustaining a garden. This resource also provides guidance on integrating the garden into the school curriculum and the community with volunteer management.

Research/Report

21st Century School Fund (21CSF)

This report provides an overview of schoolyards and their connection to student outcomes. Researchers surveyed schools in the District of Columbia to identify elements of healthy, safe, and enriching schoolyards.