Garden to Table

How do you change the way Kiwi kids think about food?

Garden to Table is changing the way children think about food.

Nā tō rourou, nā taku rourou ka ora ai te iwi

All around the country children are enthusiastically getting their hands dirty and learning how to grow, harvest, prepare and share fresh, seasonal food.

Established in 2008, Garden to Table is a Registered Charity (CC37743) and now works with thousands of primary-school-aged children all across New Zealand, helping them discover a love for fresh food and skills that will last a lifetime.

In regular Garden to Table sessions students grow, cook and then sit down and share a meal they have prepared together. Garden to Table also aligns with the NZ primary curriculum and provides real-world learning opportunities, taking learning outside the classroom.

Please explore our website to find out more about Garden to Table.

Why Garden to Table?

While the Garden to Table programme seems simple – children learn how to grow, cook and enjoy fresh fruit and vegetables during regular classes at school, which are timetabled much like a PE lesson – the impact can be profound and far-reaching. Over the past decade we have seen how Garden to Table impacts academic achievement, builds a sense of pride and self-worth, teaches about sustainability and, of course, impacts health and wellbeing.

The time to act is now. New Zealand has the 2nd highest rate of obesity in the OECD, impacting the our children’s future. Garden to Table is part of the solution.

Any primary school can introduce a Garden to Table programme. You don’t need to have extensive gardens or a fancy kitchen, just passion and enthusiasm.