School Gardens
School gardens are living classrooms where students can explore science, nutrition, environmental stewardship, and healthy living through hands-on learning. By planting, tending, and harvesting fruits, vegetables, and herbs, students gain a deeper understanding of where food comes from and how the natural world works.
In Lowell Public Schools, school gardens provide meaningful opportunities for students to engage in experiential learning that connects classroom concepts to real-world experiences. Through gardening activities, students develop important skills such as observation, responsibility, collaboration, and problem-solving. These experiences also support academic learning in areas such as science, math, and environmental studies while promoting curiosity and discovery.
School gardens also play an important role in encouraging healthy habits. Students who participate in gardening programs often become more interested in trying fresh fruits and vegetables and learning about nutrition and food systems. Gardens can also serve as community spaces where families, educators, and local partners come together to support student learning and wellness.
Through Explore & Expand programming, Lowell students have opportunities to participate in gardening activities that build connections to nature, develop practical life skills, and experience the joy of growing and sharing food together.
Why School Gardens Matter for Lowell Students
School gardens support deeper learning by giving students the opportunity to explore real-world topics through hands-on experiences. Gardening encourages curiosity, inquiry, and collaboration as students ask questions, investigate how plants grow, and work together to care for their garden spaces.
These experiences help students build connections between science, nutrition, environmental stewardship, and community. Students learn that healthy food does not simply appear in a grocery store—it is grown, nurtured, and harvested through care and effort.
Gardens also provide students with opportunities to develop confidence, creativity, and a sense of ownership in their learning. By participating in meaningful, real-world projects such as planting, maintaining, and harvesting a garden, students experience the satisfaction of contributing to something that benefits both their school and their community.
What Students Learn in School Gardens
School garden programs support a wide range of academic and social-emotional learning. Through hands-on gardening activities, students learn about:
- Plant life cycles and ecosystems
- Environmental stewardship and sustainability
- Healthy eating and nutrition
- Responsibility and teamwork
- Problem-solving and observation skills
- Connections between science, food systems, and the natural world
Students also experience the satisfaction of caring for something over time. From preparing the soil and planting seeds to harvesting vegetables, students learn patience, perseverance, and the rewards of their efforts.
Community Partnerships
Lowell’s school garden initiatives are strengthened through partnerships with local organizations that share a commitment to hands-on learning, environmental stewardship, and student wellness.
A key partner in this work is Mill City Grows, a Lowell-based nonprofit dedicated to increasing access to healthy food and promoting sustainable food systems. Mill City Grows works with several Lowell schools to support garden-based learning by helping students plant, maintain, and harvest school gardens. In addition to working directly with students, the organization also provides professional development for teachers and hands-on cooking classes, helping students connect what they grow in the garden with healthy meals they can prepare and enjoy.
Another important partner is UMass Lowell Extension, which collaborates with several schools through the Kids in the Kitchen program. In this program, students learn how to prepare healthy recipes while also developing practical life skills such as measuring ingredients, following directions, and working collaboratively. Whenever possible, fruits, vegetables, and herbs grown in school gardens are incorporated into these cooking lessons, helping students experience the full cycle from garden to table.
Together, these partnerships enrich student learning and help create vibrant school garden programs that connect students to healthy food, environmental stewardship, and their local community.
Celebrating the FRESH Grant
Lowell Public Schools has been fortunate to receive the FRESH Grant from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for the past two years. This funding has helped expand school garden programming and strengthen opportunities for students to engage in garden-based learning.
Through the FRESH Grant, schools have been able to enhance garden spaces, provide students with hands-on gardening experiences, and connect garden learning to nutrition education and cooking programs. These efforts support students in developing a deeper understanding of healthy food systems while encouraging curiosity, exploration, and pride in the food they help grow.
Schools that have received FRESH Grant support include:
- Lowell High School
- Adie Day School
- Bridge Program
- Murkland
- Robinson School
- Wang School
In addition to grant funding, Lowell Public Schools also allocates district resources to support school garden programming, including supplies and garden coordinators who help maintain garden spaces and support student learning activities. By leveraging both grant funding and district resources, Lowell is able to sustain and expand meaningful garden-based learning experiences for students across the district.
Looking Ahead
Lowell Public Schools is committed to continuing to grow and strengthen school garden programming in the years ahead. By expanding partnerships, supporting educators, and investing in garden spaces across the district, we aim to provide more students with opportunities to engage in hands-on learning that connects science, nutrition, environmental stewardship, and community.
As school gardens continue to flourish, they will remain important spaces where students can explore the natural world, develop practical life skills, and experience the joy of growing food together. Through collaboration with community partners, educators, and families, Lowell will continue working to ensure that school gardens remain vibrant learning environments that benefit students and the broader community.
