A National Network of Edible Education Pioneers: The FESYs

What is a FESY you might be asking? The Founding Edible Schoolyards (FESYs) form a small collective of organizations celebrated and supported by Alice Waters as models for how edible education can thrive across the country.   

Last month, as we prepared for the new school year, we hosted a virtual gathering for all 8 FESY’s with the sole purpose of cultivating connection.  We spent the whole time listening to each other, re-connecting (or meeting for the first time!), and brainstorming what would feel supportive in the coming year. Times of uncertainty (geo-political, environmental, fiscal, or otherwise) call for intentional community, and we decided to start with the organizations who share our name and origin story!  

We are so grateful to all the FESY folks who were able to attend, especially during such a busy time!  We learned that people are craving connection and opportunities to collaborate more than ever.  So, with this in mind, we are planning to re-launch an in-person summer event that focuses on building capacity, cultivating connections, and facilitating creative problem solving in 2026. Stay tuned for more info on that in the new year! 

Huge shoutout to Russell Sterten (our Network and Training Manager) for holding the space, and a continual appreciation to all educators who know the transformative power of teaching young people how to grow their own food and nourish themselves and their communities. We are all in this together! 

See below for a list of the Founding Edible Schoolyard affiliates. Check out the one that’s closest to you! 

Edible Schoolyard Berkeley (Berkeley, CA)
Website: https://edibleschoolyard.org/
Mission: The Edible Schoolyard Project is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the transformation of public education by using organic school gardens, kitchens, and cafeterias to teach both academic subjects and the values of nourishment, stewardship, and community.
Edible education provides hands-on experiences that connect students to food, nature, and each other; and it systematically addresses the crises of climate change, public health, and social inequality. At its heart is a dynamic and joyful learning experience for every child.

Edible Schoolyard New York  (New York, NY)
Website: https://www.edibleschoolyardnyc.org/
Mission: Edible Schoolyard NYC’s mission is to support edible education for every child in New York City. We partner with New York City public schools to cultivate healthy students and communities through hands-on cooking and gardening education, transforming children’s relationship with food.

Edible Schoolyard New Orleans (New Orleans, LA)
Website: https://esynola.org/
Mission: The mission of Edible Schoolyard New Orleans is to teach children to make healthy connections to food and the natural world.

Edible Schoolyard Larchmont Charter (Los Angeles, CA)
Website: https://www.larchmontcharter.org/programs: 
Mission: In September 2009, Larchmont Charter School launched the Edible Schoolyard (ESY) program as an affiliate of the Chez Panisse Foundation. Larchmont became one of only a handful of schools nationwide to have been handpicked by Alice Waters to help revolutionize the way children think about food, farming, community, and the environment. 

Edible Schoolyard Kern County (Bakersfield, CA)
Website: https://esykerncounty.org/
Mission: The Edible Schoolyard Kern County’s (ESYKC) after-school and day camp programs are an opportunity for students from our community to experience our edible education programs. Camps are a way for students who don’t attend one of our partner schools to experience the thrill of learning in our hands-on garden and kitchen classrooms. Camp sessions are offered throughout the year. Our camps combine ESYKC’s hands-on learning environment in garden and kitchen classrooms with an unmatched educational experience that integrates food cultivation, nutrition and edible education. 

ESY North Country Treetops (Lake Placid, NY)
Website:https://northcountryschool.org/signature-programs/farm-garden/our-edible...
Mission: Involving children in growing and harvesting food is an important part of what we do and have been doing since 1938. Students learn how to plant, harvest, cook and compost on five acres of gardens. In the fall and spring, instructors work with children in 4,000 square feet of greenhouses to produce vegetables, herbs, and flowers.

ESY Greensboro (Raleigh, NC)
Website: https://naturalearning.org/nli-projects/greensboro-childrens-museum-edib...
Mission: The Edible Schoolyard includes a half-acre urban, teaching garden and kitchen classroom.  We offer hands-on experiences that focus on fresh, seasonal food, wellness, and outdoor play.  Part of the Greensboro Children’s Museum, The Edible Schoolyard Greensboro engages our community through field trips, summer camps, after-school programming, community events, and cooking classes for kids ages 0-100.