About the Program

The Kitchen Garden Program is a winner!

Play Video/02 ABOUT THE PROGRAM/2.0_about_the_program_1.JPGAn award-winning Program

Watch the State of Design Awards video and find out why the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program was selected for the prestigious Victorian Premier's Design Awards in 2010.

Pleasurable food education – skills for learning, skills for life – join the movement!

The Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation is growing a food revolution from the ground up.

In 297 schools Australia-wide, around 35,000 children are enthusiastically getting their hands dirty and learning how to grow, harvest, prepare and share fresh, seasonal food.

The fundamental philosophy that underpins the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program is that by setting good examples and engaging children’s curiosity, as well as their energy and their taste buds, we can provide positive and memorable food experiences that will form the basis of positive lifelong eating habits.

The revolution rumbled into action in 2001, when renowned cook and food writer Stephanie Alexander OAM joined forces with an inner-Melbourne school community to establish the Kitchen Garden Program at Collingwood College. Stephanie’s pioneering approach to food education is now flourishing in many schools, through the support of  Australian national and state government funding.

Schools joining the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program commit to building the necessary infrastructure, attending and delivering the Program within the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation philosophy.

Kitchen Garden Schools deliver regular kitchen and garden classes, enabling skills-based learning that extends across the entire school curriculum.

As participants in the Kitchen Garden Program, eight to twelve year-old children spend structured time in a productive veggie garden and home-style kitchen as part of their everyday school experience. There they learn skills that will last them a lifetime, and discover just how much fun it is to grow and cook their own seasonal vegetables and fruits.

The diversity of locations of Kitchen Garden Schools – from Coober Pedy in the outback, to Alawa in the tropics, to beachside Bondi – means that each school community has its own challenges and successes. But all are united in their passion to bring the benefits of food education to their students.

Collaborating for our kids

The Kitchen Garden Program is made possible by the generosity, shared vision and commitment of schools, governments, organisations and individuals. The Program's introduction in 297 schools to date was made possible by three significant government collaborations — read more about these government collaborations here.