Education Kenya Project #34929

Seeds and Support for School Gardens Worldwide

by Seed Programs International

Project Report | Nov 9, 2024
Expanding Access to Fresh Food in rural Guatemala

By Georgia Beasley | Project Leader

Working together in the garden

In rural Guatemala, many communities face a surprising challenge: food insecurity. Though they work in agriculture, laboring on large plantations that grow bananas and coffee for export, the local diet often lacks fresh, nutritious food. These areas function as food deserts, where affordable, diverse produce is difficult to come by.

Our school greenhouse garden program, now in its second pilot year, is designed to address this challenge. The greenhouse provides schoolchildren with regular access to fresh vegetables, improving their diets and nutritional intake. Beyond this, the greenhouse serves as a resource for the community, enabling families to bring home fresh produce. It has become a small but vital step toward food security, helping families supplement what they eat with nutritious options they wouldn’t otherwise have.

Working alongside our local partner, Amachajul, we’re seeing how impactful this program can be. Families now have a reliable source of fresh food and a place to gather and learn. The greenhouse has become a hub for discussions on healthy eating and basic agricultural practices, fostering a sense of community and empowerment. Through these interactions, people are learning ways to make small changes in their own diets and to rethink food in new ways, even within the limitations of their environment.

The success of this year’s pilot has motivated us to scale up the project. Next year, we aim to expand to six more communities, bringing the benefits of fresh food access and nutritional support to more families in need. By growing this program, we hope to make a larger impact on food security in the region and provide more children and families with tools to support their well-being. Through our ongoing partnership with Amachajul, we’re working toward practical, community-driven solutions to make nutritious food more accessible for everyone.

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Jul 12, 2024
Expanding our reach here in the USA

By Georgia Beasley | Project Leader

Community gardens thriving

Cultivating Change: Expanding Our Reach with Kids Gardening

We're thrilled to announce an exciting new partnership with Kids Gardening, a leading organization dedicated to inspiring and educating children through gardening. This collaboration will enable us to provide resources and support to existing garden programs throughout the US. So far, we are working with 14 new programs, ranging from public school districts, affordable housing communities, master gardeners’ outreach clubs, libraries, and other nonprofit organizations.

By leveraging Kids Gardening's extensive network of community gardens, after-school programs, and school districts across the country, we're able to expand our reach and provide even more children with access to fresh food, hands-on learning, and a deeper connection to nature.

Nurturing the Seeds of a Healthier Future:

Through this partnership, we're not just planting seeds in the ground, but also sowing the seeds of a healthier, more equitable future. By providing resources and support to these existing garden programs, we're empowering children to:

Develop a Lifelong Love for Healthy Food: Access to fresh produce and hands-on gardening experiences fosters a healthy relationship with food.
Learn Essential Life Skills: Gardening teaches children responsibility, patience, and problem-solving skills that extend beyond the garden.
Connect with Nature: Spending time in nature has been shown to improve mental and physical well-being, and gardening is a fantastic way to connect with the natural world.
Build Community: Shared garden spaces foster a sense of belonging and collaboration, creating stronger, more resilient communities.

We're excited to see this partnership blossom and look forward to sharing stories of success and transformation from gardens across the country!

Kids experiencing fresh tomatoes

Links:

Check out our partner Kids Gardening!

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Mar 14, 2024
Cultivating Hope: New Garden Programs in Poland!

By Georgia Beasley | `Project Leader

Resiliency Gardens from last year!

This spring, a beacon of hope takes root in Poland as we launch our third year of the Resiliency Garden Program in collaboration with local schools! This initiative aims to empower communities, especially those who welcomed Ukrainian refugees into their lives, by establishing and nurturing vegetable gardens in 10 schools in Rybnik and Kaputy.

The program goes beyond simply planting seeds. We'll provide educational workshops for students, teachers, and community members, fostering a deeper understanding of sustainable gardening practices and healthy food choices. Participants will learn how to grow their own vegetables, from seed selection and proper soil preparation to effective pest management and harvesting techniques.

The gardens themselves will serve as vibrant green spaces for hands-on learning and community building. Students will gain valuable skills in teamwork, responsibility, and environmental stewardship. Additionally, the fresh produce harvested will be incorporated into school lunches, promoting healthy eating habits and contributing to a more sustainable food system within the schools.

But the benefits extend beyond the vegetables themselves. Studies have shown that gardening offers therapeutic benefits, providing a calming and grounding experience. The act of nurturing life in the soil and witnessing its growth can be especially helpful for those experiencing stress, anxiety, or displacement. These gardens will become safe havens where students and community members, including Ukrainian refugees, can connect with nature, find solace, and build new relationships with their neighbors.

The Resiliency Garden Program is more than just a gardening initiative; it's a symbol of hope and resilience. By fostering collaboration, knowledge sharing, and the therapeutic power of nature, it empowers communities to come together, build connections, and cultivate a brighter future, one seed at a time. Stay tuned for updates on the program's progress and the positive impact it has on participating schools and communities!

Gardening kids!

Kids getting their hands dirty!

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