USDA School Garden Q&As

BY: United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service

DESCRIPTION: Questions and answers related to operating school gardens in relation to school nutrition programs. 

Level 1: Foundations in Horticulture

BY: University of Wisconsin- Madison Division of Extension

DESCRIPTION: Learn from Master Gardeners on a wide variety of garden topics.

Bonnie Plants Container Gardening

BY: Bonnie Plants

DESCRIPTION: Examples and learning how to grow food in containers. 

Permaculture Principles

BY: Permaculture Principles

DESCRIPTION: Details about the 12 permaculture principles that mimic the natural world to create systems and gardens that utilize whole systems thinking.

Gardening Resources

BY: American Horticultural Society

DESCRIPTION: A hub for gardening resources including information on sustainable gardening, gardening maps, container gardening, networking and more!

Plant Hardiness Zone Map

BY: USDA

DESCRIPTION: The plant hardiness map is a geographical predictor of which plants are most likely to thrive in a specific location.

Gardening for Pollinators

BY: US Forest Service

DESCRIPTION: A comphrensive guide to planting a pollinator garden along with additional resources on native plants and pollinator conservation.

Gardening with Kids

BY: Kids Gardening

DESCRIPTION: An all-around incredible resource for gardening with kids. For more information on gardening tips and practices click on "learning tools" then "growing a garden".

Growing a Garden

BY: Kids Gardening

DESCRIPTION: An all-around incredible resource for gardening with kids. For more information on gardening tips and practices click on "learning tools" then "growing a garden".

Home Grown: School Gardens in Wisconsin

BY: DPI

DESCRIPTION: Learn about 12 different school gardens in Wisconsin and how they overcame obstacles. Each site will share their general best practice guidelines to assist you and your school in starting a school garden.

School Gardening Webinar

BY: USDA (part of The USDA Farm to School Planning Toolkit)

DESCRIPTION: In this seventh webinar, hear about the different ways to incorporate school gardens into your farm to school program as well as hear how schools are successfully procuring school garden produce for their meal programs. 

School Gardening Guide

BY: Whole Kids Foundation and FoodCorps

DESCRIPTION: Website provides step-by-step instructions on how to build or maintain a school garden and also contains a list of resources.

Wisconsin School Garden Network 

BY: Wisconsin School Garden Network 

DESCRIPTION: This website has a map that includes all known School and Community Youth Gardens in the state of Wisconsin. It also includes the Wisconsin School Garden Network Resource Library and many informative newsletters. 

If your School Garden is not on the Wisconsin School Garden Map, be sure to add yours by submitting a form under "Map your Program"! 

Farm to Early Care and Education 

BY: Rooted

DESCRIPTION: On this website, you will find resources that aim to facilitate and empower all early care and education sites to increase access to local foods, improve the nutrition environment and enhance educational opportunities.  

Got Dirt?  

BY: Wisconsin School Garden Network 

DESCRIPTION: Garden Toolkit that includes step-by-step instructions on how to build and utilize school garden. Also includes sample garden lessons. 

Got Veggies? (ECE Edition)   

BY: Wisconsin School Garden Network 

DESCRIPTION: Adopts lessons and activities from the original Got Veggies?  for the early care and education setting. 

Connecting Garden Based Curriculum to Standards    

BY: Community Groundworks and Wisconsin Partnership Program 

DESCRIPTION: Ways to help align school garden lessons with WI Educational Standards. 

Wisconsin Farm to Early Care & Education    

BY: Rooted 

DESCRIPTION: Explanation as to what Wisconsin Farm to Early Care & Education is, and ways to incorporate it in all ECE settings. 

Teaching in Nature's Classroom Book & Course   

BY: Wisconsin School Garden Network 

DESCRIPTION: This book and companion course is an opportunity for the new & experienced educators in the field of outdoor and garden based learning to consider best practices in outdoor learning environments-- with a focus on school gardens. 

School Garden Support Network    

BY: SGSO Network 

DESCRIPTION: Professional & Leadership development, resources, webinars, & platforms to connect members serving at a school, district, regional, state or national level. 

Cultivating Childhood Wellness through Gardening Training   

BY: Wisconsin Department of Health Services  

DESCRIPTION: Training videos that include lesson plans, how to plan and establish a youth garden, and nutrition education activities. 

Fearless Beginning Gardening at your Program  

BY: Rooted

DESCRIPTION: This PDF helps beginner gardeners understand that even though they are new to gardening, they can still exceed in creating valuable learning experiences in the garden.