Garden Enhanced Nutrition Education (GENE)

This course is designed for educators who teach grades K-7. The course will cover how to use the school garden to enhance nutrition education for children and youth and promote the consumption of fruit and vegetables. Participants will learn tools and strategies for involving children and youth in safe food handling and preparation in a garden, kitchen, or classroom. Other topics covered in the course: how to plan for an edible harvest, Garden to Cafeteria programs, online sources for child-friendly recipes and nutrition education lessons, comparative tastings. After taking this course, educators will be more confident in leading children through cooking activities safely and tying such experiences to learning objectives. They will have greater understanding of how to organize and time garden plantings. Prerequisite: must already have an existing garden at their school site.