A Farm to School Program
Planting Knowledge. Cultivating Community.
6 Districts | 24 Schools on the Southcoast… and counting!
Grow Education supports teachers, engages families, and educates students in creating healthier eating and living habits. In partnership with school districts, we are building a more equitable food system that promotes ecological literacy, health and sustainability.
See How Grow Education Supports, Engages, and Educates Here:
Our Approach
Grow Education leads the curriculum and classroom component of a regional Farm to School initiative in partnership with:
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6 public school districts
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24 elementary schools across the Southcoast
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Food service departments and community partners
At each school, we support the development of on-site gardens, deliver professional development for educators, and provide standards-aligned lesson plans that integrate seamlessly into classroom instruction.
These gardens serve as dynamic outdoor classrooms, where students explore earth science, nutrition, and sustainable agriculture through hands-on, experiential learning.
By embedding ecological literacy into the school day, Grow Education not only enriches academic learning but also fosters youth leadership, strengthens community connection, and advances a shared vision for regenerative, resilient local communities.
Our Method
Curriculum Integration
Grow Education enhances core curriculum by embedding hands-on STEM learning and sustainability practices directly into the school day.
Community Engagement
These aren’t just school gardens — they’re community gardens located on school grounds. We involve families and community partners to expand impact beyond the classroom.
Career Pathways & STEM Readiness
We introduce students to STEM career possibilities in agriculture, food systems, and environmental science — cultivating future changemakers from an early age.
Cross-Sector Collaboration
Our model works outside the constraints of traditional systems by bringing together schools, nonprofits, families, and food service professionals for shared impact.
Where We Grow
Grow Education currently operates in 24 schools across 6 districts in Southeastern Massachusetts:
New Bedford, MA
- Abraham Lincoln Elementary
- Alfred J. Gomes Elementary
- Betsey B. Winslow Elementary
- Carlos Pacheco Elementary
- Casimir Pulaski Elementary
- Charles S. Ashley Elementary
- Elizabeth C. Brooks Elementary
- Ellen R. Hathaway Elementary
- Elwyn G. Campbell Elementary
- Hayden-Mcfadden Elementary
- Jacobs Elementary
- James B. Congdon Elementary
- Jireh Swift Elementary
- John A. Parker Elementary
- John B. DeValles Elementary
- Sgt. William Carney Memorial Academy
- Thomas R. Rodman Elementary
- *Trinity Day Academy
- William Taylor Elementary
Westport, MA
- Alice A. Macomber School
- Westport Elementary
Mattapoisett, MA
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Old Hammondtown School
Rochester, MA
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Rochester Memorial School
Marion, MA
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Sippican Elementary
Wareham, MA
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Wareham Elementary
*Partial implementation of the Grow Education program reside at this school.
What People are Saying
A Peek Inside
GROW Education is proving that once the surrounding neighborhoods become engaged, the conversation about creating a healthy, sustainable ecosystem in the garden can naturally expand to the larger ecosystems surrounding those gardens. With evening and weekend workshops on everything from healthy food to sustainable energy use, GROW helps local schools fulfill their broader promise of strengthening the future for students, their families, and their surrounding communities.
Need Help Strengthening Your Community?
We offer consulting services for new and existing community garden and cross-cultural outreach programs.
