Case Studies

Case Studies

The case studies in this section provide information about what other schools have accomplished by integrating classroom curricula into school garden activities, as well as some contact information so the people doing this work can be reached for questions or collaborations. Many of the examples are of indigenous school gardens.


Edible School Garden:
Program Type: Garden Classrooms, Academic Classrooms
Grade/Age: Upper Elementary
Number Served: 0-100
Year Founded: 2010

The Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Health (JHCAIH) is implementing a science-based Edible School Garden curriculum with for 3rd-5th grade classes that addresses a rising trend of obesity and diabetes on the reservation. The program in Tuba City is designed to educate students about garden based nutrition and to connect students with both traditional and fresh fruits and vegetables. Schools benefiting from the program are the Tuba City Primary School and the Eagles Nest Intermediate School. The JHCAIH in Tuba City is currently partnering with FoodCorps, and acts as service site for one service member.

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Ndee Bikiyaa (The People's Farm):
Program Type: Garden Classrooms, Support Organization
Grade/Age: Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School
Number Served: 100-500
Year Founded: 2009

Ndee Bikíyaa is a project of the White Mountain Apache Tribe Water Resources. The Farm currently supports school garden construction, facilitates gardening workshops for the community, and produces crops for distribution at the farmers market in Whiteriver. The Farm also works with community members to provide garden and nutrition education programs at the farm, utilizes the passive greenhouse, and is in the process of providing local food to school cafeterias, classes, and Tribal enterprises. The People’s Farm is located 7 miles southwest of the community of Whiteriver. The farm encompasses over 900 acres that are being restored by the Tribe. In addition to the fields, the farm has a two-acre garden with row covers and garden beds, two hoop houses, a community educational center, and a passive solar greenhouse.

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Ponderosa High School:
(928) 679-8081
2384 N. Steves Blvd.
Flagstaff, AZ 86004

Program Type: Garden Classrooms
Grade/Age: Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary, High School
Number Served: 100-500
Year Founded: 2013

Ponderosa High School (PHS) has an established greenhouse, outdoor garden, and sustainability program which includes renewable energy, storm water harvesting, native and water wise landscaping, and composting. We are in process of building an additional 800 sq. ft. hoop house that will enable "three season" growing. The greenhouse serves as our classroom, water catchment and aquaculture system, place for seed starting and vermi-composting, and art room for design & planning. In the hoop house we will focus on food production. Ponderosa will use Whole Kids funding to build the beds and extend the site irrigation system into the hoop house. Our next step will be to gain USDA site certifications to make the food "legal." Food from the greenhouse will be made available to Ponderosa students and also served via the school's lunch program. Ponderosa High is also the seat of the Coconino County School District and related agencies, thus extending the project's reach into the community.


Tohono O'odham Nation:
On the Tohono O’odham Nation, young people are leading work in school gardens, health and wellness initiatives, cultural revitalization, and more. Tohono O’odham Community Action (TOCA) places youth at the core of all programming with great emphasis on building partnerships between youth, adults and elders.

Project Oidak, created in 2011, grew from the demands of young people. It is a community garden project (oikak in the O’odham language means garden) that promotes leadership, healthy foods, gardening and culture.


TOCA is the lead organization for the Youth Leadership Initiative. Fifty-four percent of TOCA’s staff are under the age of 25, which reflects the community’s demographics. As described on its blog, “when young people know they have the freedom and resources to make their vision of a healthy community a reality, a stronger relationship is built that allows for adults and elders to share their own perspectives, knowledge and wisdom.” Genuine partnerships create space for young people to utilize their natural strengths, such as high levels of energy and enthusiasm for making change, creativity and imagination.

An intensive summer youth internship program teaches youth to garden and farm. Through school wellness initiatives, students work in school gardens, learn about traditional foods, health and wellness and also eat local foods, such as tepary beans, for lunch.

TOCA can be contacted at:
http://www.tocaonline.org