School gardens are an meaningful way to provide experiential education about the environment, agriculture, nutrition. They can also tranform classroom curriculum into hands-on, interactive learning. Minneapolis Public Schools is home to over thirty school gardens, and that number grows every year! These gardens provide opportunities for students to be active participants in the local food system, grow their knowledge and skills, and build classroom community.
MPS Culinary & Wellness Services has free seed packets available for MPS school gardens! To request seeds, please fill out this form. Inventory is limited, so seeds will be distributed to schools on a "first come, first served" basis using the request form.
To ensure safety for all students and adults in gardens, schools must follow these requirements when accessing gardens:
For additional guidelines and recommendations for safe garden operations, please see:
Starting a school garden has endless benefits - from providing hands-on learning activities, to increasing food literacy, to growing fresh food for your lunchroom. Explore the resources, links, and guides below in order to learn about the steps to garden with your school.
MPS Garden Guide This garden guide outlines the application process for establishing a MPS school garden. It includes garden planning tips, educational resources, garden safety, fundraising ideas, and ideas for increasing participation in school gardens.
Creating and Growing Edible Schoolyards: A How to Manual for School Professionals A comprehensive manual from the Minnesota Department of Health for starting and sustaining school gardens in Minnesota, including garden planning worksheets and classroom activity ideas.
MN School Gardening: A Guide to Gardening and Plant Science Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom developed a comprehensive gardening guide with lesson plans that correspond to Minnesota state standards.
Getting Started: A Guide for Starting School Gardens as Outdoor Classrooms The Center for Ecoliteracy's guide for selecting a site, garden design, ideas for curriculum engagement, and strategies for building community support around school gardens.
School Garden Checklist A basic checklist from Let’s Move for getting your school garden started, with considerations ranging from soil health to garden design.
School Garden Design Webinar This webinar from LifeLab goes over smart design tips for your school garden, including strategies for how to keep your garden easy to manage while using it for a variety of classroom lessons.
To learn more about school gardens in MPS or to start a garden at your school, please email our Farm to School Coordinator.
Following safe growing, harvesting, and processing practices will prevent food safety from becoming a barrier to enjoying the local produce grown in your garden. Here are some resources to ensure that your garden is following the best practices to avoid foodborne illness.
Food Safety Tips in School Gardens
This tip sheet from the USDA details some best practices for food safety in school gardens, from planting to harvesting.
MPS Garden to Cafeteria Food Safety Plan Template
This template guides you through the process of writing a food safety plan - a requirement of our Garden to Cafeteria program. Whether you are planning to sell produce to your cafeteria or not, writing a food safety plan ensures that you consider all possible health and safety hazards in the garden.
MN School Garden & Farm to Cafeteria Safety
A manual to ensure food safety through thorough garden planning and safe harvesting practices.
Grow It, Eat It: Food Safety in the School Garden
An overview from the University of Maryland about where to site your garden, compost, soil, and water safety, pest and insect management, and health standards for working in the garden.