Rooted in School Gardens

Hands-in-the-Dirt Garden Education

Our Rooted in School Gardens program provides hands-in-the-dirt garden-based education in partnership with participating MMSD schools. All school gardens are unique, ranging from a collection of container gardens or raised beds to a half-acre of plowed land, but they all provide students with a real-time look at how food is grown.

School gardens also have many other benefits including:

An outdoor space that can provide powerful hands-on experiences that make learning come alive
Motivating kids to eat more fruits and vegetables
Promoting physical activity and quality outdoor experiences
Providing local produce
Instilling a respect for nature and a desire to care for the environment
Positive impact on student achievement and behavior

Rooted in School Gardens FAQs

What is RISG?

The Rooted In School Gardens (RISG) program connects kids to their food through hands-on garden lessons where they grow, harvest, and enjoy fresh produce.

When does the RISG Program take place?

Program duration is eight weeks in the fall and eight weeks in the spring.

What does Rooted provide?

Rooted assigns a dedicated Garden Educator to the school for 8 hours a week during the duration of the program. The Garden Educator leads outdoor garden education lessons with students, following the school’s schedule.

Additionally, Rooted provides:

Oakhill seedling-starts in the spring to populate the school garden
Access to seeds
Access to basic cooking supplies (mixing bowls, plates, choppers, cutting boards) for in-garden cooking activities

How much does RISG cost?

$3,000/8 weeks of programming

A discounted $2,000/8 weeks of programming is available for qualifying schools. Please contact us to determine if your school qualifies for a discounted rate.

What are the responsibilities of the school?

Cover the costs of specific lesson/project supplies, any food for cooking activities that is not from the school garden, garden upkeep needs, updates/renovations, etc.
Provide the Garden Educator with arts and crafts supplies for lessons if needed
Maintain the school garden spaces year-round (Rooted can provide informational resources for summer garden care upon request)
Create the schedule for the Garden Educator, with lessons scheduled for either one 8-hour school day or two 4-hour half days each week
Provide a liaison on behalf of the school to act as the main point of contact for the Garden Educator and Rooted

How can I learn more?

If you have additional questions, please reach out to Erica Krug at [email protected].

If you are interested in participating in the Rooted in School Gardens Program at your school, please fill out the RISG Interest Form.

Rooted currently partners with ten MMSD schools through our Rooted in School Gardens program: