Edible Schoolyard

The Edible Schoolyard is a school-based, one-acre organic garden and kitchen classroom at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School in Berkeley, CA. Every student enrolled at King Middle School participates in the Edible Schoolyard. The program teaches students the connection between their everyday food choices and the health of the community, the environment, and themselves. In addition, it teaches them healthy lifestyle choices and encourages them to integrate these practices into their daily lives. Garden classes introduce students to the origins of food, plant life cycles, and harvesting; while kitchen classes allow them to prepare and eat nutritious and seasonal dishes from the produce that they have grown. The program teaches and encourages students to live healthier lives and to appreciate the nourishment and stewardship of the land.

The goal of the Edible Schoolyard program is to teach students about gardening, cooking, and healthy eating through the creation and maintenance of an organic garden.

Each year, the Edible Schoolyard serves thousands of children. After participating in the Edible Schoolyard, students leave with a sense of ownership and accomplishment, an understanding of how food is planted, grown, harvested, and prepared; a willingness to try new foods; life skills, including cooperative work, respect for self and others, active listening, and the ability to make healthy food choices.