Lancaster Students Learn Through Hands-On 'Edible Classroom'

Outdoor garden program teaches science, health, and teamwork skills.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 3:55pm

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A repeating grid of a brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen image of a garden trowel, transformed into a modern pop art piece through the use of flat, neon color palettes and heavy black outlines.A vibrant, pop art-inspired celebration of the hands-on learning happening in the Edible Classroom gardens.Lancaster Today

A Lancaster elementary school is celebrating the expansion of its 'Edible Classroom,' an outdoor learning space created in partnership with a local non-profit organization. The program brings hands-on lessons about growing, cooking, and eating healthy food to students, aiming to boost academic achievement, healthy lifestyles, and environmental stewardship.

Why it matters

The Edible Classroom program provides a unique, experiential way for Lancaster students to learn critical skills beyond the traditional classroom. By engaging directly with food production and preparation, the program helps students build confidence, strengthen social skills, and develop healthier relationships with what they eat.

The details

The Edible Classroom works with schools and communities to create outdoor learning gardens where students can get their hands dirty and learn about science, health, and the environment. Each student gets the chance to visit the garden twice a year - once in the fall and once in the spring - to learn about growing food, cooking, and more. The program is designed to complement what teachers are doing in the classroom and reach every student through hands-on activities.

  • The Edible Classroom program has been operating in Lancaster County for several years.
  • The expanded outdoor learning space at Robert Fulton Elementary School was recently unveiled.

The players

The Edible Classroom

A local non-profit organization that partners with schools in Lancaster County to build gardens and create hands-on learning environments focused on food, science, and the environment.

Angie Martin

A representative from The Edible Classroom who oversees the program's work with local schools.

Christine Wenger

A fifth-grade teacher at Robert Fulton Elementary School who helped students design a sign for their new Edible Classroom garden.

Robert Fulton Elementary School

A Lancaster school that has partnered with The Edible Classroom to create an outdoor learning space for its students.

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What they’re saying

“Instead of learning inside the building or in a textbook, which is just as important, they get to actually learn about health, science, and the environment right out here.”

— Angie Martin, Representative, The Edible Classroom

“When they grow it and they have their peers are tasting it too, it gives that motivation to try maybe some new things.”

— Angie Martin, Representative, The Edible Classroom

“I think they just love that they were able to be a part of it. They kind of light up when they get to be able to be a part of something at the school.”

— Christine Wenger, Fifth-Grade Teacher, Robert Fulton Elementary School

What’s next

The Edible Classroom program plans to continue expanding its partnerships with more schools in Lancaster County, providing more students with hands-on learning opportunities in outdoor garden spaces.

The takeaway

The Edible Classroom's innovative approach to education is helping Lancaster students develop essential skills in science, health, and the environment through engaging, real-world learning experiences. By getting their hands dirty in the garden, students are building confidence, strengthening social bonds, and cultivating a healthier relationship with food.