Shared Roots was created to encourage District residents to grow food by allowing them to temporarily grow food in school gardens not being used over the summer.  

The deadline for school gardens to apply to be a Shared Roots site is March 27, 2025.

Applications for District residents will open in early April. If you would like to be notified once applications open, please complete this interest form.

Apply to be a Shared Roots Site!

All school gardens will have at least one site coordinator. The site coordinator will provide access for District residents to garden, grow and maintain a school garden that needs summer maintenance and willing to share harvests.

Why should my school garden participate as a Shared Roots site?

• Keeping a school garden open for District residents in a time of uncertainty is one of the greatest services a school can offer to the community.
• Gardening outdoors can be done safely when health guidance is followed.
• Access to nutrient-dense fresh food is unequitable across the District. This program provides District residents with access to growing spaces, where they also receive support from an experienced gardener to help them learn to grow their own food.
• Community involvement in schools contributes to, among many things, academic success among students. This program connects District residents to schools through gardening.
• Summer maintenance for school garden programs is an ongoing challenge. This program will increase the number of schools that will have school gardens ready for students on the first day of school.
• Through this program, District residents not only help with garden maintenance, but also bring in their own experiences, backgrounds, and skills that add richness and a sense of place to the school garden.

What are the site coordinator requirements?

• Complete and submit an application on or before March 27, 2025
• Be associated with a DC school garden
• Virtually attend a 30-minute webinar, hosted by OSSE (April 2025)
• Select members based on site capacity and needs
• Create a member/site coordinator agreement (a template will be provided)
• Sign a District government waiver
• Orient members to the school garden and offer consistent access to the site
• Maintain an open line of communication with members
• Practice 100 percent organic gardening methods
• Obtain a letter of support from a representative of the school’s leadership
• Ensure each participant is vetted through the school’s volunteer process
• Complete the End of Program Survey in September 2025

If you are associated with a District school garden and have questions about becoming a site, please contact Sam Ullery at [email protected].

If you are a District resident and have questions about participating, please contact Joshua Singer at [email protected].