Plant a Seed & See What Grows Foundation donates $15,000 to Farm to Cafeteria Canada to fund more school gardens
In its initiative to enrich educational experiences and promote sustainability, Plant a Seed & See What Grows Foundation has donated $15,000 to Farm to Cafeteria Canada (F2CC). F2CC encourages schools to grow their own food programs through networking, practical guidance, teaching resources, and funding.
Aligning values for a greener future
The Plant a Seed Foundation’s funding will enable the creation of gardens in six schools across the country, aligning with both organizations’ values of community enhancement and ecological stewardship. School gardens deliver ecological, educational, and economic benefits to the schools and their communities—providing the schools with fresh produce, some food autonomy, and plenty of learning opportunities.
F2CC’s mission of transforming food education in Canada aligns with the Plant a Seed Foundation’s goal of helping to create a healthier generation through experiences that connect youth to the land. Through partnerships like these, Plant a Seed & See What Grows is helping young people value their environment and improve their communities.
Impact on funded schools
The six schools benefiting from this $15,000 donation span various regions, each facing unique challenges and opportunities:
Campbellton Middle School, New Brunswick, serves a diverse population including many Mi’kmaq students. The new garden will provide fresh produce for their breakfast program and empower students to create their own lunches from what they grow.
Bishop Feild Elementary School, Newfoundland and Labrador, is a densely populated urban school with a focus on diversity and community partnership. The garden will enhance their inclusive learning environment, benefiting over 300 students, including refugees and new Canadians.
West Colchester Consolidated School, Nova Scotia, is located in a rural, vulnerable socioeconomic area. The school will use the garden to support their farm-to-school initiative, bridging the gap between their isolated community and fresh, local foods.
Birch Narrows Dene Community School, Saskatchewan, sits in a remote First Nation community, and will integrate the garden into their efforts to revitalize Indigenous traditions of connection to the land and its stewardship.
Minnetonka School, Manitoba, will enrich their diverse K-8 student body’s learning experiences, particularly for newcomer families.
École Leila North Community School, Manitoba, will expand their current efforts in addressing food insecurity in their community, enhancing their already robust garden and food literacy programs.
Call to action
Plant a Seed Foundation is calling on natural health retailers and individual donors to join this impactful initiative. Your support can take various forms, from monetary donations to Plant a Seed, to partnering with us to help a school in your community build their own garden.
Sustaining these gardens in the years to come will also require your support and ongoing community involvement. Together, we can cultivate not just plants, but also stronger, healthier kids and their communities.
Let’s grow a brighter future, one garden at a time.
For more information on how to get involved, contact info@seewhatgrows.org.