Grow an edible sensory garden to teach the joys of eating fresh foods

This resource is packed with helpful information to learn how to start an edible sensory garden in your yard, community, or other garden setting. A garden planner sheet is included to help you track progress and make notes for changes in the next season.

Sensory gardens are an effective way to get people and communities interested in:

• growing food
• healthy foods
• fresh, local foods
• trying new flavors, ingredients, fruits and vegetables
• slowing down to observe the natural world
• learning to reduce anxiety and stress.

Giving adults and kids a place to explore the sights, smells, and tastes of growing plants can be a powerful way to improve the variety of foods in a diet and also the willingness to explore new foods and flavors. This provides excitement around learning how to prepare foods in the kitchen and interest in new foods and a more diverse variety of nutrients.

This educational resource provides ideas on

• what plants you might want to include,
• where to turn locally for resources and support in planning your garden,
• ideas on how to get others involved in the sensory garden,
• topics and discussions to lead with visitors to your garden,
• ideas for classes you (or others) can lead in your sensory garden
• collaboration ideas to enjoy in your garden with others in your community
• and food and drink examples to explore with your sensory garden.

This information is relevant for an individual wanting to start a small sensory garden on their patio or in their yard, but also on a larger scale with a community based garden or in a larger area if available for growing space.

Dietitians and health care professionals can use this information:

• to guide their own sensory garden planning, even as a place to host classes and events
• to help clients who are interested in gardening to add more edible foods to boost nutrient intake and variety
• to lead a class or group discussion on the benefits and planning of edible sensory gardens or gardens in general
• as a resource at health fairs, farmers markets, community classes, in-service meetings, etc
• to spread the word on benefits of growing food to anyone and anywhere!

Endless benefits are waiting, let’s grow more food and spread the knowledge so others can too!

Use this fun new resource and also find the free How to compost a pumpkin resource in my Well Resourced RD store while you’re here. Check back for new gardening, sustainability, and composting topics coming soon.