The School Garden Project is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that helps schools create and sustain gardens where hands-on learning connects students with their environment and local food system. We provide advice in school garden design and construction, recruit and train volunteers to work in gardens, distribute material resources to local schools, and coordinate garden-based education programs that serve more than 800 students annually.

Based in Lane County, Oregon, our programs serve more than 30 K-12 schools in five local school districts: Eugene 4J, Bethel, Springfield, South Lane, and Crow-Applegate-Lorane. Each year, our staff coordinates garden-based education programs in over a dozen elementary schools. Our educational programs introduce students to the fundamentals of gardening while naturally conveying lessons in science, math and cultural history.

Through partnerships with local agencies including the Community Transition Program, the Northwest Youth Corps, and Food for Lane County, we have supplied tens of thousands of healthy plant seedlings to local schools and education centers since 2006. Dedicated volunteers help schools maintain gardens through the summer, assist with our education programs, and coordinate nursery projects. With support from local businesses and the City of Eugene, we work with several schools each year to establish new gardens.

Our work is aimed at promoting the unique opportunities inherent in school gardens. We believe school gardens can play a crucial role in creating a holistic, engaging educational atmosphere for today’s youth: one that encourages hands-on experiences, healthy eating, and curiosity about the natural world.