Celebrating More Garden Grants in 2024

Seeds of Change 

Our Whole Kids Garden Grant program provides $3,000 grants to K-12 schools to implement a garden for the first time or for schools with existing gardens to strengthen their program. The grants also fund edible learning spaces in non-school environments that support children's programming such as community gardens, libraries, museums, or after-school programs. Since 2011, Whole Kids has awarded funding for more than 8,700 edible gardens, investing over $20 million and benefiting more than 5 million students. 

Our Garden Grants allow schools and nonprofits to acquire project essentials or further develop their existing gardens. Funds are used for a wide range of support including planting materials, tools, curriculum materials, staff training, and labor costs.  

“The Garden Grant recipients and Whole Kids share aligned goals to connect kids with food, create meaningful learning opportunities, and inspire life-long healthy eating habits,” explains Executive Director of Whole Foods Market Foundation Carol Medeiros. 

Carol adds, “Each of the schools and nonprofits exhibits significant participant need; has cogent strategies to engage students, volunteers, and the community; and demonstrates plans for longevity and sustainability of their garden programs. Whole Kids is thrilled to amplify their efforts.” 

Take a look at how two of the Garden Grant recipients are serving their students and the community: 

Stuart Career Tech High School, Goose Creek CISD, Baytown, TX 

Stuart Career Tech High School is an application-based high school aiming to prepare students for high-skill, high-wage, high-demand careers by combining rigorous career and technical coursework with core curriculum classes. Students receive instruction in one of six career academies with 11 different pathways of study.

In addition to fostering deep connections with the environment and each other, Stuart Career Tech’s garden programming includes opportunities for students to develop self-confidence, responsibility, and a sense of cooperation as they plant, grow, harvest, cook, and eat the vegetables and herbs they grew themselves in their garden. Plant Science Pathway students (the newest pathway in their agriculture academy) maintain these garden beds in collaboration with their Culinary academy. They cook and serve our produce at their weekly restaurant called the Titan Table.

Stuart Career Tech’s garden, Sustainable Agriculture Laboratory, has three central goals: 

1. Providing vegetables and spices to its Culinary Arts Program 
2. Assisting in efforts toward the conservation of nature in their community, including growing native plants 
3. Leading the community’s transition to sustainable practices 

This is Stuart Career Tech’s first Whole Kids Garden Grant. The school is using the funds to purchase soil for garden beds and to improve their irrigation system. 

Bridgeport Elementary School, Tualatin, OR 

Two-time grantee Bridgeport Elementary School will use the Garden Grant funds to maintain their existing community garden. Established as a place for the community to grow together, the garden connects students, their families, and neighbors to fresh, healthy food — and to one another.  

Bridgeport Elementary’s gardening program also aims to create cultural relevancy and reflect the needs and wishes of the school community through three key components: 

1. Bilingual signage in Spanish and English (the primary languages spoken by students and families at the school) for all plants, which includes identification and harvest information, plus images for literacy learners 
2. Culturally diverse plants representative of the countries of origin of school’s families 
3. Curriculum that includes plant origin, health benefits, and the impacts of food waste on the community and planet.  

During Plant the Garden Days, the entire school engages with the garden by planting seeds and transplants. Before their visits, students learn about where food comes from and how plants grow. Then, the school shares the harvest in several ways. Staff offers food at a tasting table in the cafeteria that is accessible to all students, and they share food with school families in need of supplemental food sources. Fruits and vegetables are also featured at school events to promote healthy eating and educate students and families about the garden. Additionally, part of the harvest is donated to a local food bank.  

Bridgeport Elementary received its first Garden Grant in 2015 and has also received three Bee Grants.