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.

Quick Course Facts At-A-Glance

  • The Seed to Supper curriculum is available in English.
  • Each course includes 2-hour sessions typically held at the same time each week for six to nine consecutive weeks.
  • Course content covers 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 students need to fill out an application.
  • All participants and volunteers complete an end-of-course evaluation to measure key learning points and provide feedback for program improvements.
  • Most counties hold Seed to Supper classes in the spring, but late summer classes are possible, too.

The following counties plan to offer classes in 2025: Allegheny, Beaver, Bedford, Berks, Bradford, Bucks, Butler, Clinton, Columbia, Crawford, Clearfield, Delaware, Fayette, Forest, Greene, Huntingdon, Indiana, Jefferson, Juniata, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lycoming, Mercer, Monroe, Montgomery, Montour, Northumberland , Philadelphia, Snyder, Somerset, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Union, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Westmoreland.

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 to request one.

For more general information, contact Kinorea Tigri at kkt5317@psu.edu or Lori Voll-Wallace at lkw17@psu.edu. Please let us know which county you live in, along with your preferred email and phone number.

Partnership with Penn State Extension

Penn State Extension Master Gardeners and Extension's Food, Family, and Community unit will partner with any interested organization (aka: sponsor) to deliver educational programming and expand your program's reach to underserved populations. Extension will provide the training, the course book, PowerPoint presentations, and hands-on activities.

The sponsoring organization is responsible for securing participants and a suitable location for the classes.  Garden space is a plus but not necessary. The sponsors will help market the program with a flyer that Penn State Extension provides. If funding is available, gardening supplies may be provided by the sponsoring agency as well. Local Master Gardener programs may also provide some gardening supplies if funding is available. Gardening supplies can be seeds, seedlings, potting mixes, containers, and fertilizers as needed. Additional sponsorship details can be found on our Seed to Supper Partner page.

Don't hesitate to contact your local Master Gardener coordinator and ask about starting or joining a current program.

Seed to Supper 2024

The 2024 Seed to Supper program reached 30 Pennsylvania counties, introducing a full-color course book while continuing to empower food-insecure residents with gardening skills.

Seed to Supper 2023

The 2023 Seed to Supper program addressed food insecurity in Pennsylvania communities by empowering residents with practical gardening skills and resources to grow their own fresh, nutritious food.

Seed to Supper 2022

The 2022 Seed to Supper program operated in 20 Pennsylvania counties, using a black-and-white course book while beginning the development of a color version.

Seed to Supper 2021

The 2021 Seed to Supper program launched as a statewide initiative in 10 Pennsylvania counties during the challenging COVID-19 pandemic.

Seed to Supper Partnership Information

Discover the benefits of becoming a Seed to Supper partner! Help Penn State Extension Master Gardeners empower novice gardeners to grow their own food while strengthening food security in the community.