The document lists numerous online resources that provide support for school and community gardens. It begins by outlining USDA resources like Farm to School and Team Nutrition that offer curricula and materials to support garden-based learning and nutrition education. It then lists several national nonprofit organizations like the American Heart Association and Edible Schoolyard Project that provide additional educational resources and professional development opportunities related to school gardens. Finally, it details some North Carolina-specific resources from organizations like Eat Smart Move More NC and the NC Department of Public Instruction that offer local support, information, and materials for school and community gardens.

1. School and Community Garden
Online Resources
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Resources
Farm to School
www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/f2s
USDA offers resources to support Farm to School procurement activities and education with
standards-based curricula centered on food, agriculture, and nutrition and experiential activities,
e.g., school gardens, farm field trips, and cooking classes.
Food Safety Tips for School Gardens
www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Guidance/foodsafety_schoolgardens.pdf
School gardens provide a way for children to grow, harvest, prepare, and taste new fruits and
vegetables. This USDA tip sheet outlines appropriate precautions to ensure that produce from
school gardens can be served safely to students.
Team Nutrition
http://teamnutrition.usda.gov
USDA Team Nutrition offers curricula, activities and materials for educators and Child Nutrition
professionals, e.g., Fruit and Vegetable Challenge Packet, Fruits and Vegetables Galore, Recipes
for Healthy Kids Cookbooks, Serving Up MyPlate, etc.
Other Resources
American Community Gardening Association (ACGA)
www.communitygarden.org
ACGA is a nonprofit organization that supports community gardening by facilitating the
formation and expansion of community gardening networks, developing resources in support of
community gardening, and encouraging research and conducting educational programs.
American Heart Association (AHA) Teaching Gardens
www.heart.org (Search Teaching Gardens)
AHA Teaching Gardens teach children in first through fifth grades how to plant seeds, nurture
growing plants, harvest produce and ultimately understand the value of good eating habits.
Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP) Growing Minds
http://growing-minds.org/school-gardens
ASAP Growing Minds offers lesson plans, children’s literature resources and information about
creating school gardens, organizing farm field trips and purchasing local foods for schools.
California School Garden Network
www.csgn.org
The curriculum section, compiled by the University of California Division of Agriculture and
Natural Resources Garden-Based Learning Workgroup, provides over one hundred garden-based
lessons to create, expand, and sustain garden-based learning experiences.
Edible Schoolyard Project
http://edibleschoolyard.org
The Edible Schoolyard Project supports kindergarten through high school edible education in
programs across the country through an online network and resource center and offers
professional development opportunities through an annual Edible Schoolyard Academy.
FoodCorps
https://foodcorps.org
FoodCorps is a non-profit national service organization that works to increase children's
knowledge of, engagement with, and access to healthy food through school gardens, hands-on
nutrition education and Farm to School programming that brings local food into public schools.
Harvest of the Month
www.harvestofthemonth.com
Harvest of the Month features resources to motivate and empower students to increase
consumption and enjoyment of fruits and vegetables and engage in daily physical activity.
Developed by Child Nutrition Services, N.C. Department of Public Instruction. In accordance with Federal Law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color,
national origin, sex, age, or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call toll free (866) 632-9992 (Voice). Individuals
who are hearing impaired or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339; or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. 03/13
http://childnutrition.ncpublicschools.gov
Dig In 2013

2. School and Community Garden
Online Resources
Junior Master Gardener (JMG)
http://jmgkids.us
JMG is a Cooperative Extension 4-H youth development program that engages youth through
leadership development projects and learning experiences that promote a love of gardening,
develop an appreciation for the environment, and cultivate the mind.
Master Gardener
www.extension.org/mastergardener
The Master Gardener program trains Cooperative Extension volunteers to provide horticultural
education in their communities
National Gardening Association (NGA)
www.garden.org
www.kidsgardening.org
Programs and initiatives of the non-profit NGA highlight the opportunities for plant-based
education in schools, communities, and backyards across the country.
School Garden Wizard
www.schoolgardenwizard.org
School Garden Wizard has been created for America's K-12 school community through a
partnership between the United States Botanic Garden and the Chicago Botanic Garden.
Success with School Gardens
http://ag.arizona.edu/youthgardens/marketplace/success_book/PDF_list.html
Success with School Gardens, from Arizona 4-H Youth Gardening, contains all of the information
needed to plan, initiate and conduct a youth garden program.
North Carolina Resources
Eat Smart Move More North Carolina
www.eatsmartmovemorenc.com
Eat Smart Move More NC is a statewide movement that promotes increased opportunities for
healthy eating and physical activity. ESMMNC offers a variety of resources: Bring Fresh Produce
to Your Setting, Fruits and Veggies Challenge, Growing Communities through Gardens, etc.
Growing Safer Gardens
http://growingsafergardens.com
Growing Safer Gardens, a partnership of N.C. State University, N.C. Cooperative Extension, the
N.C. Department of Public Instruction and Nourishing North Carolina, provides resources and
information for school and community gardens and food safety.
Natural Learning Initiative
www.naturalearning.org
The mission of the Natural Learning Initiative, based at N.C. State University, is to help
communities create stimulating places for play, learning, and environmental education.
North Carolina Community Gardens
http://nccommunitygarden.ncsu.edu
The N.C. Community Garden Partners offer this site to help citizens find a community garden
nearby, learn how to start a new garden or find resources to support an existing one.
N.C. Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI), Child Nutrition Services
http://childnutrition.ncpublicschools.gov
www.nutritionnc.com/ResourcesForSchools
The NCDPI Child Nutrition Services section administers Child Nutrition programs at the state level
and provides nutrition education professional development, technical assistance and resources
(e.g., Food for Thought curricula, Fruit and Veggie lesson plans, School Gardens in North Carolina
brochure, Making the Connection bulletin board toolkit, etc.) for Local Education Agencies (LEAs).
Developed by Child Nutrition Services, N.C. Department of Public Instruction. In accordance with Federal Law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color,
national origin, sex, age, or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call toll free (866) 632-9992 (Voice). Individuals
who are hearing impaired or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339; or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. 03/13
http://childnutrition.ncpublicschools.gov
Dig In 2013