Jeffers Garden Program Logo

School Garden Information Library

How to Start a Garden

  • School Gardens (University of Minnesota Extension website)

    A variety of resources related to starting & maintaining a school garden.

  • Start a School Garden - Here's How

    USDA’s recommended steps for starting a school garden.

  • School Garden Resources

    Whole Kids Foundation’s School Garden Resources page is full of great resources for everything School Garden.

  • Gardening 101

    10 Steps to Starting Your Own Garden

  • USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

    The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map includes a ZIP code finder that provides the plant hardiness zone for all US ZIP codes.

  • Gardening How-To

    Resources on Gardens from Kidsgardening.org.

  • Gardening with Kids

    Guidance on getting started with gardening, and how you can involve your children. The following website can provide information on gardening and planting, along with activities and games for kids.

Documentation

  • MN Academic Standards for School Gardens

    Minnesota State Academic Standards that apply to School Gardens.

School Garden Guides/Manuals

  • Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom

    Minnesota School Gardens: A Guide to Gardening and Plant Science. Featuring 31 k-12 lessons linked to the Minnesota Academic Standards.

  • How-to Guide from Slow Food USA

    This guide offers a clear road-map for developing a successful school garden program.

  • Whole Kids Foundation

    Webinars on School Garden Program Sustainability and Garden to Cafeteria Programs.

Curriculum/Instructional Activities

  • School Garden Weekly

    School Garden Weekly shares a long list of additional School Garden resources.

  • Garden Activities

    Garden related activities and hands-on lessons that can be tied to your regular curriculum & for families to learn together, while encouraging love for nature and the environment.

School Garden Partnerships

  • Midwest Food Connection

    These natural foods lessons are available for grades K-5 and are tailored to the specific age of the students. (Fee based program)

  • Harvest Moon Edible Landscapes

    Harvest Moon can help with garden design, technical assistance, fundraising assistance, and curriculum consultation for school gardens.

Elementary & Middle Schools in MN with School Gardens

  • MN School Gardens Survey 2017

    Minnesota elementary and middle schools with a school garden program.