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SchoolyardActiveSince 2004

Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program

Melbourne, Australia · Operator: Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation

Overview

Founded in 2004 by chef Stephanie Alexander, this 'pleasurable food education' program links school gardens with kitchens. Across more than 1,000 early-childhood services and schools in Australia, children grow, harvest, prepare and share food as curriculum-linked learning. It is internationally recognised as an evidence-backed food-education model.

Citizen participation

From early childhood to secondary, children grow, harvest, prepare and share fresh seasonal food in school gardens, with hands-on learning linked to the curriculum.

Operating model

A non-profit foundation provides a membership package of resources, professional development and support, while each school runs its garden and kitchen.

Impact

Independent evaluation found positive effects on children's attitudes to vegetables and eating habits; the program has scaled nationwide.

Crops

  • seasonal vegetables
  • herbs
  • fruit
  • leafy greens

Scale

Network program in over 1,000 early-childhood services and schools across Australia

Sources(2)

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Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program — Urban Farm DB