At Lincoln Elementary, students gather in their school garden, digging into the soil with their hands. They’re not just playing—they’re learning. About vegetables, responsibility, and where food comes from. This is transformative for their lives in the classroom and at home. Here’s why.

Gardens Change Kids Lives.

In Fresno, many kids have never had access to green space or fresh produce. Nearly 1 in 4 residents in Fresno County is food insecure (Feeding America, 2023). Our city also ranks among the lowest in the nation for access to parks and open space (Trust for Public Land, 2022). These conditions affect student health, behavior, and academic performance.

ENP’s School Garden Program exists to address those realities. We support schools in turning unused space into growing space—places where students can learn science, try new foods, and build something meaningful together.

Studies show that students who garden at school are more likely to eat fruits and vegetables, show increased engagement in class, and influence healthier eating habits at home (CDC, 2021; KidsGardening.org, 2020). 

And for students who live in areas with limited green space, gardens offer something even more basic: a safe, vibrant place to learn outside. Gardens provide calming environments that support student mental health and social-emotional learning—especially important in neighborhoods impacted by poverty and trauma.

One school garden volunteer put it simply: “They don’t need a lot of space. Just a little patch of soil to call their own.”

Our Approach to School Gardens

ENP helps schools build and sustain gardens by providing materials, volunteer coordination, and training for teachers. We work alongside educators—not just to install raised beds, but to make garden time part of how students learn and grow.

This isn’t about one-time beautification projects. It’s about creating hands-on learning environments that last. That includes seasonal planting days, ongoing support, and partnerships with families and local growers.

Grow School Gardens around Fresno!

The development of our school garden program has been possible because of the financial investment of Kaiser Permanente and CalViva Health. We will be expanding the program this next school year thanks to the Fresno Teachers Association!

Would you like to support the growth of school gardens across Fresno schools? Click here to make a donation and write “school gardens” in the note section! 

If you would like to volunteer your time, seeds, or supplies to a school garden, email yang@everyneighborhood.org!

We believe every student should have access to a school garden because it helps students learn how to care for things outside of themselves, builds community, gets them outside, teaches them about healthy eating, and makes learning more tangible. The need is clear. The approach is simple. And with your support, it’s scalable in schools across our city!

Learn More About School Gardens:

Feeding America – Map the Meal Gap: Fresno County (2023)
Nearly 1 in 4 residents in Fresno County is food insecure. https://map.feedingamerica.org/county/2021/overall/california/county/fresno
(Select “Fresno County” for full data.)

Trust for Public Land – ParkScore Index (2022)
Fresno ranks among the lowest major U.S. cities in access to parks and green space. https://www.tpl.org/parkscore
(You can search Fresno’s ranking directly in the ParkScore tool.)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – School Garden Programs Improve Nutrition and Physical Activity (2021)
School gardens increase fruit and vegetable consumption, engagement, and physical activity.
https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/npao/school_gardens.htm

KidsGardening.org – The Impact of Youth Gardening (2020)
Students involved in gardening often influence healthy eating habits in their families.
https://kidsgardening.org/research-summaries/