School gardens can strengthen food security in rural, food-insecure communities by increasing access to fresh produce while helping students learn practical skills tied to agriculture, nutrition and environmental stewardship.
In addition to supporting school meals, gardens can build student leadership, community pride and resilience by reconnecting youths and families with how food is grown.
By leveraging local and state resources and OSU Extension’s nutrition and gardening expertise, the Oakridge School District expanded access to fresh produce and created a long-term, student-centered learning space that strengthens community food resilience.
Because of its remote, mountain location and limited shopping options, Oakridge is among Lane County’s most food-insecure communities. Community members have embraced the Oakridge School District’s effort to establish a school garden between the elementary and upper schools.
In 2021, Lane County voters approved a local option property tax levy to help fund Oregon State University Extension Service programming in Lane County. The levy enabled Extension to open a satellite office in Oakridge.
Heather Buley, Oregon State University Extension Service’s nutrition educator in Oakridge, partnered with the school district to develop a site plan, garden design and implementation approach using Extension Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) garden-based resources and curriculum.
Buley worked with school staff and students to build a plan that connects the garden to grade-level learning, school nutrition services and the broader community.
The Oakridge School District began preparing the garden site by removing pavement and installing water access. Buley secured an Oregon Department of Education Farm to School grant that funded soil for new raised beds and supported a sustainable garden design created in collaboration with Oakridge Junior/Senior High School students and educators.
Students also participated in structured design workshops with a local landscape architect, helping ensure the space reflected student priorities and could be maintained over time.
Throughout the design and installation process, Buley met weekly with students while also starting seeds and managing transplants in a greenhouse. During spring and summer 2025, Buley provided ongoing, hands-on gardening education for elementary, middle and high school students in the new community garden.
Public value
By leveraging local and state resources and OSU Extension’s nutrition and gardening expertise, the Oakridge School District expanded access to fresh produce and created a long-term, student-centered learning space that strengthens community food resilience.
The project builds practical skills and healthy habits in youths while helping a food-insecure rural community grow more of its own food.