Farm 2 School

Supporting Education, Nutrition, and Wellness

Farm 2 School Google Site

Lawrence Public Schools' Farm 2 School program connects more than 10,000 students to hands-on agricultural learning and fresh, locally sourced foods through student-led gardens at every school, strengthening wellness, nutrition education, and community partnerships across the district.

Farm 2 School (F2S) encompasses a number of important wellness initiatives across Lawrence Public Schools. The program has helped provide tons of local produce to school cafeterias and hosted experiential learning lessons and activities for thousands of students. Farm 2 School also collaborates with Lawrence farmers and businesses, facilitating local food procurement for school meals, garden education, and school gardens.

School Gardens

Thanks to the Farm 2 School program, every school building in Lawrence Public Schools has their own garden, where students and staff care for, cultivate, and harvest fresh produce to use in their school meals. These school garden installations began with the 11 raised bed gardens at each elementary school and the four middle school production gardens. More recent green space additions include one at the Juvenile Detention Center/Youth Services program and the student-led plots at Lawrence High School, Lawrence Free State High School, Lawrence College & Career Center, and Community Connections at Pinckney.

Through the help of numerous grants, donations, and district and community support, the Farm 2 School program boasts a staff of 28 extraordinary educators and facilitates the operation of 20 different school gardens.

Our Impact

The goal of the Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) Farm 2 School program is to expand the prevalence of fresh, local foods in school cafeterias and bolster agriculture and nutrition education. Lawrence Public Schools received a grant from the Kansas Health Foundation to fund and support a robust and sustainable Farm 2 School program. F2S is intended to primarily support the more than 10,000 students attending Lawrence Public Schools and directly supports the Lawrence Board of Education's goal to "enhance student wellness by integrating support and services across the district."

Students will be strengthened academically and physically by serving meals that feature more foods which are locally produced and healthy, advancing Farm 2 School experiential learning through school gardening initiatives and farm field trips, and facilitating curriculum integration of health and wellness in classrooms and cafeterias. The districtwide F2S program will also impact children served by the USD 497 summer nutrition program. As seasonal summer produce is harvested, local farms can be integrated into these menus.

In addition to supporting the academic achievement of Lawrence learners, F2S advocates for the success and wellbeing of students beyond Lawrence Public Schools. Alongside the Kansas State Department of Education, the LPS Farm 2 School team was in attendance at the Vermont FEED Farm 2 School Adapters Institute. Information from this institute will be brought back to Kansas, to help with plans to launch a tri-state Farm 2 School Institute with Nebraska and Missouri.