Amid the litany of education reforms that emphasize innovation and new methods, school gardens stand out as a low-tech change. In an era where kids' lives are more sedentary, and where childhood obesity has risen dramatically, gardens support and encourage healthful eating as a key component of children's physical wellbeing, which can aid their academic and social success, too. And as the consequences of food deserts and poor nutrition on life outcomes become starker, advocates say that school gardens can act as a counterweight — an outdoor respite for children growing up in environments that can be otherwise unsafe or barren.
Several studies have shown that gardens can be key in shifting children’s nutritional practices:
- A 2017 evaluation of FoodCorps conducted by the Tisch Center for Food, Education, and Policy at Teachers College, Columbia University found that in schools that provide frequent, high-quality opportunities for hands-on nutrition learning, students eat up to three times more fruits and vegetables at school lunch — regardless of whether or not that food was grown in the garden.
- The effects extend outside the school day, too. A 2018 randomized control study by Nancy Wells at Cornell University found that children whose schools provided regular school garden lessons had more access to low-fat vegetables and fruit at home than children without that curricula.
Best Practices for Schools
For educators considering planting the seeds of a gardening program at their school this year, Ellis, Ringstrom, and Siegel offer best practices on fostering a community of health and wellness.
- Focus on skill development — and connect it to the cafeteria, the supermarket, and home.
- Integrate the garden into other classroom lessons.
- Make your approach culturally relevant and place-based.
- Don’t provide unhealthful food.
- Foster a mindset of exploration.
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