Seed to Supper is a beginning garden course focused on reducing food insecurity in Oregon. Learn more about the program, and how to become an official Seed to Supper provider.
History of the program
Seed to Supper was co-created by the Oregon Food Bank and OSU Extension. For many years, Oregon Food Bank oversaw administration, and OSU Master Gardeners served as program educators. Today, the program is entirely run and administered as an OSU Extension project. We are grateful for Oregon Food Bank’s generosity and former partnership for Seed to Supper, and have pledged to maintain a focus on communities who have historically experienced disproportionate rates of hunger. This includes people of color, immigrants and refugees, trans and gender nonconforming communities, and single moms and caregivers.
The course has been taught in partnership with many different community organizations, from food pantries and food banks, to places of worship and prisons.
Learning to grow food on a limited budget
Seed to Supper is a free, comprehensive, six-week beginning gardening course. It’s designed to give beginning, adult gardeners the tools they need to successfully grow a portion of their own food on a limited budget.
The curriculum for Seed to Supper is available in English, as well as in Spanish. In Spanish, it is called Ciembra la Cena.
“I started seedlings from seed for my garden for the first time in my life.”
—Seed to Supper participant
How Seed to Supper is administered
Organizations and Master Gardener programs in Oregon are welcome to apply to become an official Seed to Supper Provider. When you become a Seed to Supper Provider, you receive:
- Access to the digital PDF copies of the Seed to Supper program course book;
- Access to digital presentations (Powerpoint files) to teach Seed to Supper;
- Access to digital templates for customizing and promoting Seed to Supper;
- Program updates and supporting information sent as a newsletter 2x a year;
- Access to an online community connecting all Seed to Supper providers across the state;
- At this time, there is a limited amount of free course books for participants and instructors available in hard copy. After this supply is exhausted, course books will be available to Seed to Supper Providers, at cost.
- Training for local administrators of the program in diversity, equity and inclusion.
Note: At this time, Seed to Supper materials are only available for Oregon organizations.
Localize the content for your region
Seed to Supper curriculum is designed for the maritime Pacific Northwest, or Plant Hardiness Zone 8b. Providers of the program are encouraged to be creative and customize the materials for your climate.
Become a Seed to Supper provider
Are you ready to deliver a gardening course to individuals and families who are low-income and/or food-insecure in your community? Great! Apply to become an official Seed to Supper Provider. You will need to provide;
- Your organization’s name
- Contact information for the person responsible for implementing Seed to Supper in your community
- Your plan for outreach and commitment to engaging low-income and food-insecure participants in the program
- Community partners you will be working with
- Commitment for your local facilitator(s) to attend the required diversity, equity and inclusion training provided through OSU Extension.
Plan ahead: make sure to submit your application at least 4 weeks in advance of when you would like to start advertising the class.
You will hear whether your application to become an official Seed to Supper has been accepted, within 2-4 weeks.
"I love that there is a community of gardeners out there that is interested in learning how to grow their own food! It's motivating!"
—Seed to Supper participant
We encourage organizations to become an official Seed to Supper provider. However, if you’d like to access the digital curriculum, please register your interest via our online request form. You will automatically receive a link to access the curriculum.