Seed to Supper

What is Seed to Supper?

NYS Seed to Supper (S2S) is a comprehensive beginning gardening experience focused on low-budget strategies with community development and relationship building at its core – relationships among community program partners and between program participants. Over the course of six FREE sessions led by volunteers and staff, S2S gives novice gardeners the tools they need to connect with others in community, grow in confidence, and successfully grow a portion of their own food on a limited budget.  All participants receive a free guide book (in English or in Spanish), free seeds and starts, and even some gardening supplies.

What difference has it made?

Nearly 1 million residents of upstate New York live in poverty. New York State ranked among the top 20 states with the worst food hardship, according to the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC), with 3 million New Yorkers relying on food assistance, 1 million being children. While gardening doesn’t solve all the issues related to food security, having a source of fresh food – and the confidence and skills to raise it – can make a big difference. Participants in Seed to Supper show an increased knowledge of food gardening, feel more confident in their ability to grow a portion of their own food, and are better able to access garden resources in their community. In the medium and long-term, they implement food gardens, improve nutrition, offset grocery costs, reduce hunger, and become advocates who teach others and access locally grown fruits and vegetables.

Last updated September 13, 2023