• Through the Logan Kitchen Garden Project: Cities for Better Health, over 2,800 children have built confidence and practical skills by growing and cooking food together. 

• Shared gardening and cooking experiences will deliver lasting benefits for schools, educators and the wider Logan community. 

• This partnership model proved food education can drive preventative health and wellbeing outcomes at a local level. 

Through hands‑on growing, cooking and learning, the Logan Kitchen Garden Project: Cities for Better Health is leaving a strong legacy — fostering connected communities, confident educators and children with new skills and a deeper relationship with fresh food.   

Logan, on Yugambeh Country in Queensland, became the first Australian city to join the global Novo Nordisk Cities for Better Health initiative in 2024, partnering with the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation to address local health inequities and strengthen food literacy, wellbeing and inclusion for children. 

Over 2,800 children across four schools and seven early childhood services were directly impacted by the partnership, with ripple effects reaching into the community.  

Together with educators, communities and local partners, we are cultivating healthy eating habits from an early age so that this and future generations can live longer, healthier lives, one garden at a time. 

Schools and services received a two-year Kitchen Garden Program membership and a flexible infrastructure grant, enabling them to build gardens, create cooking spaces and confidently deliver pleasurable food education. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisation Jinndi Mibunn’s community garden and outdoor kitchen were also supported. 

The impact of the Logan Kitchen Garden Project in numbers

• 3,570 fresh, seasonal and delicious meals were shared thanks to the initiative.    

• 100% of project schools and services observed improvements in gardening knowledge, confidence and skills. 

• 100% of project schools and services observed improvements in willingness to try new foods. 

• 100% of project schools and services observed improvements in recognition of fruits and vegetables.   

• 67% of project schools and services observed improvements in cooking knowledge, confidence and skills. 

• 90% of project schools and services observed improvements in social skills. 

• 87% of project schools and services observed improvements in student resilience. 

• 90% of project schools and services reported that their learning environments are now more inclusive, accessible and interactive. 

• 100% of project schools and services reported that their program reached people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds, children with diverse abilities, and people experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage. 

• 90% of project schools and services reported reaching Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. 

Throughout the year, educators participated in two Kitchen Garden Program in‑person professional development days, two community activations, and several Kitchen Garden Program webinars and virtual tours. They reported a shift from feeling unsure about delivering food education to seeing abundant opportunities to integrate gardening and cooking into everyday learning. 

“Students are becoming more curious about fresh ingredients, trying new foods, and showing more awareness about where food comes from. Teachers are incorporating garden experiences into lessons, and there’s a growing sense of pride as students see the results of their planting and harvesting,” says Eagleby South State School Teacher Terri Campbell. 

We’re looking forward to continuing to support our members in Logan as they grow their Kitchen Garden Programs and build lasting health, wellbeing and connection across their communities. 

Interested in collaborating with us through a place‑based partnership? Get in touch to explore how you can be involved or support a Community Initiative.