Plant the Seed Expands Educational Gardens to Antioch’s Thomas Edison Elementary
Plant the Seed continues to transform education in Middle Tennessee through its innovative school garden program. Its newest garden at Thomas Edison Elementary in Antioch marks an exciting expansion, made possible through a generous sponsorship from Farm Credit Mid-America. This partnership, launched during Nashville’s Earth Day celebration, demonstrates Farm Credit Mid-America’s commitment to bringing hands-on gardening and agricultural education to children in food-insecure communities across the region.
Growing Success Through Strong Partnerships
Since partnering with Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) in 2016, Plant the Seed has established thriving gardens at:
- Three elementary schools across Davidson County
- Four Early Learning Centers serving preschool children in the Metro area
Our Dedicated Network of Partners
- Farm Credit Mid-America
- Metro Nashville Public Schools
- Patagonia
- Sprouts Farmers Market
- HCA
- The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee
- USDA’s Farm-to-School Grant Program
Making a Difference in Children’s Lives
“We hear from parents that kids love to go to school when they get to be outside in the gardens and nature spaces. We’ve had kids who had never tasted a fresh blueberry and kids who had never seen corn growing. Closing that experience gap is so important to us.”
— Sarah Voter, Executive Director of Plant the Seed
The gardens provide children unique opportunities to grow fresh food, explore nature, and experience agriculture firsthand. For many students, these gardens offer their first exposure to growing food and understanding where it comes from, making the program particularly valuable in bridging experiential gaps in food and agricultural education.
Supporting Future Growth
Plant the Seed continues to seek community support to expand its impact across Middle Tennessee schools. Organizations and individuals interested in helping create more educational garden spaces can contact Plant the Seed to learn about sponsorship opportunities. These partnerships are crucial in building stronger communities and inspiring the next generation to understand and appreciate agriculture.
Through these collaborative efforts, Plant the Seed is not just growing gardens—it’s cultivating curiosity, environmental awareness, and healthy relationships with food among Middle Tennessee’s youth.
🌱 Want to learn more? Discover how Farm Credit Mid-America’s partnership with Plant the Seed is inspiring youth and securing the future of agriculture.