North Bay Children's Center - Garden of Eatin' Project

In 2004, NBCC received a grant from The First 5 Marin Children & Families Commission to develop a Community Garden project so children could learn about health and nutrition through an integrated, hands-on environmental curriculum. We believe that the lessons learned in our programs can lay the foundation for a lifetime of good health. NBCC’s Garden of Eatin’ program has been recognized by the California State Legislature, Marin County Board of Supervisors and the National Garden Association as a project of exceptional community value. Since the project’s inception the children have vastly increased their consumption of fruits and vegetables. The Garden of Eatin’ is widely recognized throughout the North Bay for its innovation, accomplishments, and leadership in childhood obesity prevention.

The goal of the Garden of Eatin’ Program is to decrease childhood obesity, as we move our families toward healthier lifetime behaviors. Using evidence based strategies and measurable outcomes, North Bay Children’s Center, Inc, created a curriculum and toolkit that was approved by the USDA and serves as a model for early education. Working with young children and their families in the area of nutrition and exercise can have an impact on future health outcomes and lifestyle choices. Developing strong community partnerships, in our case, the Department of Public Health, the school districts, and the Food Bank, enables programs to link with information and resources well beyond their internal capacity.

North Bay Children's Center Garden of Eatin’ Project has 6 Early Childhood Education (ECE) sites with a combined population of approximately 400 children with over 60% of those children coming from low income families throughout Sonoma and Marin Counties.