Seed to Supper Program

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 Southeast PA contact Ann Marie Detavernier at amb318@psu.edu.

For Southwest PA contact Elisa Bradshaw at emb7115@psu.edu.

For more statewide 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. 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.