ABSTRACT
School garden programmes have been a popular development intervention in past decades. The objectives for school gardens have differed greatly, often determined by the proponent of the idea. In the developing world, these have included teaching improved farming skills, supporting community food production, and demonstrating exemplary agricultural practices to the communities surrounding the schools. This chapter provides a brief history of school gardens and an overview of their multiple benefits. These benefits include: a better understanding of the agriculture and nutrition sectors; enhancement of farming and livelihood skills; behavioural and attitudinal changes towards food, including a wider awareness of healthy eating and diets; the conservation of agrobiodiversity; understanding climate change impacts on agriculture and food production; enhancing academic skills and performance; empowerment of girls and women; reconnecting indigenous children with their foods and culture; and using these as a potential space to address mental health and well-being in schoolchildren.
