Antioch University: Building a Garden Community

Case Study 10 Enjoyable green spaces.  This is a topic on the forefront of many minds these days where school gardens are becoming a norm and the concept of edible landscapes is blooming.  At Antioch’s campus in Keene, NH, the lawn is now growing food for the on-site café  and is one of the most [...]

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Winchester School: Greenhouse, Garden, and Groundhog

Case Study 9 Behind the Winchester School, a greenhouse nestles along one of the building’s walls. Inside the structure you’ll find evidence of past gardening projects and the sweet smell of New Hampshire’s summer heat. The vents are open in hopes that plants will soon be growing there. Beside the greenhouse, raised bed gardens are [...]

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Symonds School: Transforming Green Space into Diverse Habitats

Case Study 8 The Symonds School, located just off of Park Avenue in Keene, NH, exemplifies the culmination of dedicated parents, faculty, staff, and students working to beautify the landscape and provide hands-on educational opportunities for all.  A variety of garden beds surround the school grounds, located near entrances, fence lines and within the playground [...]

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Stonewall Farm: Building Bridges

Case Study 7 Stonewall Farm in Keene, NH, is a nonprofit working farm and education center dedicated to connecting people to the land and to the role of local agriculture in their lives. Set in a scenic valley, Stonewall Farm consists of pastures, fields and woodlands.  As you walk around the farm, a geodesic dome [...]

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South Meadow School: The Dream Becomes Reality

Case Study 6 “For some kids, coming to school is easy.  For others, school is a struggle. We want to have something that can reach them,” says South Meadow School Principal Dick Dunning. For one student at South Meadow Middle School in Peterborough, NH, coming to school was the last thing he wanted to do. [...]

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The Orchard School: A School Growing Food and Community

Case Study 5 The Orchard School sits on a hill that faces the local bakery, Orchard Hill Breadworks and abuts the Orchard Hill Community.   A playground with raised bed gardens is connected to rows of beautiful, green vegetables that are sold through the Orchard Hill Village Roots CSA. During the school year, young students wander [...]

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The Hooper Institute: Two Brothers – One Dedication

Case Study 4 Asked what her favorite part of the program is, Eloise Clark—Director of the Hooper Institute, joyfully responded, “I am the director and I create all of this. I love to implement and organize programs. Seeing happy kids’ faces of course is always wonderful!” The Hooper Institute graces the top of a beautiful [...]

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Garden Meals: Learning to Eat Healthy, Right from the Garden

Case Study 3 A young boy squeals excitedly as he finds yet another potato beetle and begins to pull it from the plant where it resides. Nearby, some folks pick peas and other veggies. Eggs are gathered from Stacey’s chicken coop, just down the street. Indoors, participants begin chopping and preparing all the foods needed [...]

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Early Sprouts Program: Focus on Young Children

Case Study 2 The Early Sprouts Program promotes learning among teachers, preschool-age children and their families using a “seed to table” approach.  Specifically, this program is a research-based nutrition and gardening curriculum that gives children experience in planting, harvesting and preparing their own food.  Holistically, however, it is a community-based model for creating positive change. [...]

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How to Maintain School Gardens Over the Summer

The Cornucopia Project uses family volunteers to help maintain school gardens over the summer.  Each family adopts a garden bed for a week while school is out.  At another site, the plan is to use a local garden club to help maintain the beds. What other innovative ideas for maintaining school gardens over the summer [...]

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