By Blake Jackson
Food insecurity affects about 1.7 million Pennsylvanians, including nearly half a million children meaning one in eight residents and one in six children lack reliable access to nutritious meals. This shortage of healthy food contributes to higher risks of chronic illness, increased hospitalizations, and elevated health care costs.
Penn State Extension’s Master Gardener Seed to Supper program aims to address these challenges by empowering residents to grow their own food. As Penn State marks its 11th GivingTuesday on Dec. 2, program organizers are encouraging community support to help expand this initiative statewide.
Seed to Supper provides adults with practical, research-based vegetable gardening education, delivered through partnerships with local food banks, community groups and Extension’s food, families and communities unit.
The program offers accessible instruction on soil preparation, planting, garden management and harvesting, with the goal of building food literacy, confidence and community ties. It also supports households navigating uncertainty around food programs such as SNAP.
Courses generally meet weekly for six to eight weeks and combine classroom lessons with hands-on activities. Participants receive free materials, though some counties may charge modest fees for supplies. Nutrition, cooking and food preservation guidance also helps gardeners make the most of their harvest.
Based on a model from the Oregon Food Bank and Oregon State University Extension Service, the program has been adapted for Pennsylvania’s growing conditions.
Feedback from a 2025 survey of 574 applicants was strongly positive, with participants praising knowledgeable instructors and a welcoming learning environment.
Results showed that 97% planned to grow their own food, 100% gained new gardening knowledge and 84% expected to eat more vegetables. As one attendee shared, “The Master Gardeners were incredibly knowledgeable and willing to share that knowledge.”
Program leaders, including Kinorea Tigri, plan to broaden Seed to Supper’s reach in 2026. “As the program has grown, it is becoming evident there is a continued need for education around growing vegetables on a budget,” she said.
“We’re planting more than gardens - we are planting the roots of a healthier, more connected Pennsylvania,” Extension Program Manager Andy Faust said.
To help sustain the program, Master Gardeners are seeking GivingTuesday contributions that support coursebooks and program delivery. “Your contribution plants the seeds for lasting change. Your support makes it possible,” Faust said.
More information is available on the Penn State Extension website.
Photo Credit: istock-elenathewise
Categories: Pennsylvania, Education, General