Park City’s ‘Edible Education’ program plants seeds of healthy living for kids

Summit Community Gardens - EATS kids programs help promote healthy eating choices for kids in Utah. Photo: Neighbors of Park City

PARK CITY, Utah — More than 2,250 Park City students are learning to grow, cook, and compost their own food through an innovative educational program that’s transforming how local youth think about healthy eating.

Summit Community Gardens & EATS provides year-round “edible education” to students from pre-K through ninth grade, teaching the complete cycle of food production from seed to plate to soil.

“Our goal is to expose kids to food through cooking, tasting, and gardening,” said Helen Nadel, Executive Director of Summit Community Gardens & EATS.

The organization represents the culmination of two grassroots movements that shaped Park City’s food education landscape. EATS, founded in 2014 by Susan Odell and Ann Bloomquist, pioneered bringing cooking education into public schools, while Summit Community Gardens, established in 2012, focused on connecting the community with hands-on gardening experiences. The organizations merged in April 2023, creating a comprehensive approach to food education.

Today, the program operates from a thriving community garden space near Matt Knoop Park, made possible through a visionary agreement between the Koleman family and Summit County that designated the land specifically for agricultural use. The site now hosts 134 garden plots that serve as living classrooms and community growing spaces. Beyond individual plots, the central garden area supports local food security initiatives, providing fresh produce to the Food Farmacy, the Christian Center’s Food Pantry, and patients of The People’s Health Clinic.

In classrooms across Park City, the organization runs age-tailored programs that connect children with their food sources. Preschoolers discover nutrition through “Eating the Rainbow,” a program teaching the importance of consuming varied, colorful foods. Elementary students participate in “Curious Cooks,” where they learn practical skills like chopping and cooking while exploring new flavors.

What began as separate initiatives to promote healthy eating and gardening has evolved into a comprehensive seed-to-plate-to-soil curriculum. Students now learn the complete cycle of food production, from planting in the organization’s gardens and greenhouses to preparing meals in classrooms.

The organization’s commitment extends beyond growing and cooking to environmental sustainability. Their school composting initiative has already diverted more than 25,000 pounds of food waste from landfills, turning lunch scraps and seasonal items like pumpkins into rich soil for future gardens.

Through summer camps and school-year programs, Summit Community Gardens & EATS maintains year-round engagement with students, utilizing greenhouses, classroom spaces, and garden plots to foster lifelong healthy eating habits in Park City’s youth.

Visit the Summit Community Gardens – EATS website for more information and to learn about the programs they offer.