Seed to Supper is a comprehensive beginning gardening program that provides novice, adult gardeners the tools they need to learn how to successfully grow a portion of their own food on a limited budget.
Seed to Supper offers more than just garden education and improved access to healthy foods. It provides learners with transformative experiences that increase individual and community food security by fostering food literacy, resiliency, community connectivity, and supportive social networks.
This joint effort between local county Food Banks or similar organizations and the Penn State Extension Master Gardener Program is offered free of charge to qualifying adults. A nominal fee may be charged to those above current poverty guidelines to defray some of the cost of supplies.
The Seed to Supper curriculum originated with the Oregon Food Bank and Oregon State University Extension Service Master Gardener Program. The Penn State Extension Master Gardeners have adapted the coursebook to reflect Pennsylvanian gardening conditions. It is a not-for-profit program.
Partnership within Penn State Extension
Penn State Extension Master Gardeners and Extension's Food, Family, and Community unit will partner with any interested organization to deliver educational programming and expand your program's reach to underserved populations. Don't hesitate to contact your local Master Gardener coordinator and ask about starting or joining a current program.
Program Impact Evaluation 2023:
| Areas Where Participants Reported Gaining Knowledge | % of Class |
|---|---|
| Overall – Participants reported gaining knowledge in least one category | 100% |
| Choosing the best garden location | 91% |
| Preparing the garden location for success | 93% |
| Methods for planting a garden | 93% |
| Methods that support a healthy garden throughout the growing season | 95% |
| Integrated pest management practices (IPM) | 91% |
| Areas Where Participants Reported Gaining Confidence | % of Class |
|---|---|
| Overall -- participants gaining confidence in at least one category | 99% |
| Evaluating a site to choose an effective location to plant a garden | 91% |
| Preparing a location for a garden by using a soil test kit | 97% |
| Planting a garden using succession planting or interplanting techniques | 93% |
| Caring for a garden through the growing season using mulch or other water management practices | 90% |
| Using IPM practices to protect a garden from pests | 90% |
| The Seed to Supper Program helped me: | Agree to Strongly Agree |
|---|---|
| Grow my own food. | 99% |
| Increase garden knowledge. | 98% |
| Eat more vegetables. | 81% |
| Try new varieties of vegetable. | 87% |
| Connect with others in my community. | 91% |
| Learn more about resources available to me within my community. | 90% |
Quick Course Facts At-A-Glance
- The Seed to Supper curriculum is available in both English and Spanish.
- Each course includes 2-hour sessions typically held at the same time each week for six to eight consecutive weeks.
- Classes cover vegetable gardening fundamentals: soil preparation, garden planning, planting, maintenance, and harvest.
- Classes are taught both indoors and outdoors and include hands-on activities.
- Teams of two to three facilitators typically teach classes.
- Approximately 8 to 15 adult participants commit to attending all classes in the series.
- Course books and other supplies are provided free to all qualifying class participants.
- All participants and volunteers complete an end-of-course evaluation to measure key learning points and provide feedback for program improvements.
2024
The following are counties that plan to have classes this year. Most programs are held in the spring, but late summer classes are possible, too. Participating PA counties in 2024 are Allegheny, Beaver, Bedford, Bradford, Clarion, Clinton, Crawford, Dauphin, Delaware, Fayette, Greene, Huntingdon, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lycoming, Mercer, Montgomery, Montour, Northumberland, Perry, Philidelphia, Snyder/Union, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Westmoreland, and Wyoming.
Don't see your County listed here? Interested in starting a program in your county or at your organization? Contact your local County Penn State Extension Master Gardener Coordinator and request one.
2023
In 2023 the following counties had programming: Allegheny, Beaver, Bedford, Blair, Butler, Clinton, Crawford, Dauphin, Delaware, Fayette, Greene, Lycoming, Mercer, Montour, Snyder/Union, Somerset, Susquehanna, Berks, Warren/Forest, Wayne, Washington, West Moreland, and Wyoming.
For more information, contact Kinorea Tigri at kkt5317@psu.edu or Lori Wallace at lkw17@psu.edu.
Be sure to let us know which county you are from and your contact information. Email and phone number.
