Programs teaching the practical skills of learning how to feed ourselves a healthy, nutritious diet are at the heart of our work. Over the years, this has involved food education in the classroom, in the cafeteria, in the schoolyard and in the community linking to local farms.

Gardens for Learning
This flagship program was created in the mid-1990's in response to the increase in childhood hunger in the summer months when school lunch and breakfast is not available. Now in fifteen sites across Vermont, the GFL community-based gardens provide at-risk children with hands-on skills in growing, cooking and nutrition for eating fresh local foods. The Two Rivers Center is the statewide demonstration and training site for all Gardens for Learning programs.

2008 Request for Funding - due 4/25 (PDF) »

Learn more about our summer camps »


Food Education Every Day (FEED)
This project is a collaboration between Northeast Organic Farming Association, Shelburne Farms and Food Works designed to address the dramatic rise in childhood diet-related disease by focusing on food education in the " three CCC's" - the classroom, the cafeteria and the community (local farms). (Visit the FEED website for additional information.)


Good Food - Good Medicine
Food Works’ newest food and nutrition education work, Good Food - Good Medicine, is taking a seasonal approach to exploring good health and nutrition through locally grown food and herbs.  This program involves intense organizing and leadership development with low-income families at two section 8 housing sites in Central Vermont. The participants meet once per month throughout the entire year and the focus is on seasonal and hands-on cooking, nutrition and gardening. The classes include the entire family: children and their parents are learning and working side-by-side.  All of the participants leave with a bag of groceries filled with the ingredients they need to recreate the same meal at home. It is our belief that by including the entire family in the learning process, encouraging participants to practice what they’ve learned at home and meeting regularly throughout the year (not simply a four-week or six-week program) we will see sustainable change in the families with whom we are working. We are currently working at the Cummings Street Complex in Montpelier and Highgate Apartments in Barre.