Growing Healthier Communities! One Garden at a Time
A showcase of how our vegetable gardens are planting the seeds for long-term wellness, learning, and community connection.
the mission behind our gardens
Listening Before Planting
Before the first shovel hits the ground, we start by listening. Through roundtable discussions with parents, teachers, physicians, and local leaders, we learn what the community truly needs.
In one school, a parent shared that her child had never tasted a vegetable that wasn’t canned. In another, a physician told us he was treating patients who wanted to eat better but had no idea how. These conversations shape how and where we build our gardens.
The result is not a one-size-fits-all solution, but a program tailored to each school’s unique culture, needs, and strengths.
Our Roots Run Deep
In ZIP code 76104, just a few miles from TCU, life expectancy is the lowest in Texas. Families in this area face daily barriers to accessing fresh food, nutrition education, and long-term health resources. That’s why our gardens don’t just grow vegetables. They grow knowledge, trust, and a sense of ownership over health.
Each garden begins with a simple goal: create a space where students can connect food with wellness, where families feel empowered to cook nutritious meals together, and where health begins before anyone ever steps into a clinic.
We partner with local physicians, dietitians, and public health leaders to align our efforts with the real challenges families face. We believe growing food is just the first step in growing healthier communities.
Why It Matters
Without early exposure to fresh food, many children grow up disconnected from the basics of nutrition, unaware of how food shapes health. This gap isn’t just about access, it’s about experience. By creating spaces where students get their hands in the soil and see their own impact, we’re helping shift mindsets long before medical intervention is needed. The habits formed in these gardens ripple outward, influencing how families eat, talk about health, and care for one another for years to come.
How It Works
Building the Beds
Hands-On Education
Hands-On Education
We work directly with schools in underserved areas to design, build, and maintain vegetable gardens. From raised beds to drip irrigation, we provide everything needed to grow seasonal produce plus the tools and training to keep it going.
Hands-On Education
Hands-On Education
Hands-On Education
Each garden is paired with a frequent “Garden Club” where students explore nutrition, science, sustainability, and wellness through hands-on learning. Each club may include lessons, take-home information sheets, games, activities, and cooking demos.
FROM SCHOOL TO HOME
CLOSING THE LOOP WITH CLINICS
CLOSING THE LOOP WITH CLINICS
All produce grown is sent home with students in reusable bags, often with recipes and tips they can use with their families. We have a cookbook that was written to couple with our produce to cook healthy meals. A child bringing home vegetables becomes a bridge between the classroom and kitchen.
CLOSING THE LOOP WITH CLINICS
CLOSING THE LOOP WITH CLINICS
CLOSING THE LOOP WITH CLINICS
In some neighborhoods, we work alongside local clinics and nutritionists who refer families to our programs as part of long-term disease prevention. Together, we’re building a model where health is reinforced across school, home, and clinic.
Voices from the Garden
Student (Age 10):
Student (Age 10):
Student (Age 10):
“I’m going to cook with my mom tonight,” a 9-year-old boy told us after garden club, proudly holding vegetables he grew himself. He later asked to take home an extra onion to teach his mom how to regrow it.
Parent:
Student (Age 10):
Student (Age 10):
“My son asked for spinach after garden club,” one mom shared with a smile. “We added it to our dinner, and now it’s part of our grocery list every week.”
Teacher:
Student (Age 10):
Teacher:
“Every week, my students ask if it’s a One Shade Greener day. They look forward to it more than anything. They always want to know when they’ll get to see the garden team again and what they’ll be planting next. It’s become one of the most joyful parts of their school experience.”
Where we are growing
International Leadership of Texas – Woodhaven
International Leadership of Texas – Woodhaven
International Leadership of Texas – Woodhaven
At this middle school, we work with over 40 students who are learning how to grow their own food from the ground up. Each student receives vegetable plants, like tomatoes, peppers, and beans, to care for in the classroom and then take home to plant with their families.
This simple act has sparked something meaningful: students come back eager to share updates, ask questions, and celebrate every sprout. Many have taken ownership of their plants as a point of pride, with one even saying, “I’ve never grown anything before, but now I want to grow more.”
Lily B. Clayton Elementary School
International Leadership of Texas – Woodhaven
International Leadership of Texas – Woodhaven
This elementary school features four raised beds and a strong partnership with families. Parents frequently join us in the garden, helping with planting days and sharing their own food traditions. This site emphasizes community as all the produce is distributed to the families of the school.
Boys & Girls Club of Greater Fort Worth
Boys & Girls Club of Greater Fort Worth
Boys & Girls Club of Greater Fort Worth
At this after-school site, we serve elementary and middle school students, focusing on the joy of growing food and transforming it into healthy snacks. Our programming here blends gardening with interactive cooking activities that build lifelong habits in a fun, accessible way.
By the Numbers
Boys & Girls Club of Greater Fort Worth
Boys & Girls Club of Greater Fort Worth
- 3 active garden sites
- Dozen of raised beds plantsd
- 70+ students and families served monthly
- Dozens of recipes taught and tasted