School Gardening for Sustainability Training

Farm to School is a nationwide effort to connect schools with local, fresh food while generating excitement around healthy food choices among children. While every farm to school program looks somewhat different, they generally include one of the three core elements of farm to school programs: procurement (food purchases and the use of local foods as meals, snacks, and taste tests), education (educational activities related to agriculture, food, health, or nutrition), and school gardens (hands-on learning and engagement through gardening). Students learn about local agriculture and have access to delicious local foods; farmers gain new markets for their products; and local economies grow stronger. Farm to school enriches the connection communities have with fresh, healthy food and local food producers by changing food purchasing and education practices at schools and preschools. Students gain access to healthy, local foods as well as to educational opportunities such as school gardens, cooking lessons, and farm field trips. Farm to school empowers children and their families to make informed food choices while strengthening the local economy and contributing to vibrant communities. Seeds to Success acts as an umbrella for all the programs Louisiana Farm to School has to offer, ensuring the program continues growing to meet the needs of Louisianans, both young and young at heart. Seeds to Success will support the continued growth of Louisiana’s farm to school movement. We strive to provide timely farm to school resources that will increase healthy food choices and educational opportunities that connect schools with farms and communities in Louisiana.