Early Childhood Services

Perfect for little hands and curious minds, the Kitchen Garden Program for Early Childhood is a play-based, hands-on program that promotes a whole-service approach to teaching children about fresh, seasonal, delicious food. Adaptable to any early childhood setting and with a ‘start small, dream big’ approach, the Kitchen Garden Program for Early Childhood encourages children to connect with nature and themselves.

Read our Early Childhood information booklet

“The program is a working toolbox that is constantly opened and expanded upon in every room, every day.”
– Julie Lemmon, Food Education Leader, Clarendon Children’s Centre

The program supports implementation of the Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) National Quality Standard (NQS), and links pleasurable food education to outcomes of the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF).

“Children discover real-life, authentic experiences firsthand, which contributes to lifelong learning in the areas of literacy, language, maths, science and sustainability, to name a few.”
– Maryanne Blanch, Educational Leader, Californian Gully Kindergarten

Benefits of the Kitchen Garden Program

The Kitchen Garden Program offers children:

lifelong practical skills
opportunities to experience wellbeing and connectedness
alternate ways of learning for increased engagement
investigations into sustainability and food security.

For educators the program provides:

easy-to-access learning materials adaptable to any service environment
personalised support and guidance from our Support Team, five days a week
professional development opportunities, both online and face-to-face
inspiration and networking via our national community of educators
increased community and social inclusion.

Complete the online form to join today

Start up or invigorate your Kitchen Garden Program with the early childhood membership package including the full suite of printed educational resources, professional development and more. Equip your educators with play-based learning linked to the Early Years Learning Framework and National Quality Standard.

Start-up Membership Package (two-years)

What's included:

Professional Development webinar: Kitchen Garden Ready  — Get going, get growing!
Welcome call from the Kitchen Garden Team

Your welcome box includes: 

Early Childhood workbook series: Practical advice and planning resources to run your Kitchen Garden Program (seven books)
A Kitchen Garden Program educator apron

Ongoing membership support 

Personalised support via phone, email and video calls with the Kitchen Garden Team
24/7 access to the Shared Table, our online kitchen garden resource library and community hub 
Monthly newsletter packed with shortcuts to planning kitchen garden experiences
Professional Development – topical webinars (unlimited places) and in-person training (available at an additional cost)
Networking opportunities, peer engagement and inspiration from our national community of educators
Plus! Membership to The Diggers Club

Price: $975

2-year renewal: $440

Complete the online form to join today

Hungry to get started?

Join a free information session or talk through what membership looks like for you by contacting our Support Team on 13000 SAKGF (13000 72543) or membership@kitchengardenfoundation.org.au

The Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program has met the requirements for inclusion on the ACER Wellbeing Program Guide, Australia’s most comprehensive wellbeing programs guide for schools.

With the early support of the Ian Potter Foundation, the Kitchen Garden Program for Early Childhood flourished from a 3-year pilot commencing in 2017 into an established and valued program for the sector.