Every child deserves
to watch
something grow.
Why It Matters
For too many Philadelphia families, access to fresh and nutritious food is not a given. In neighborhoods where healthy options are limited, children face barriers not only to eating well today but also to building healthy habits for the future.
Food insecurity is more than an empty plate. Limited access to whole foods can affect children's growth, learning, and long-term health. A lack of exposure to fresh ingredients and nutrition education can make present barriers even harder to overcome.
Good2Grow helps bridge that gap through hands-on gardening, nutrition education, and community partnerships empowering children to discover where food comes from and how it can nourish them.
of Philadelphia children experience food insecurity (Feeding America, Map the Meal Gap, 2024 data)
children in Philadelphia impacted by hunger (Feeding America, Map the Meal Gap, 2024 data)
of food stores in Philly sell mostly unhealthy options (Prism Reports, 2024)
ratio of unhealthy to fresh food stores in low-income areas (Prism Reports, 2024)
What Healthy Eating Does for a Child
Strong Muscles
Spinach, beans, and vegetables are packed with nutrients that help growing bodies build strength and endurance.
Sharper Brain
Tomatoes, berries, and leafy greens support cognitive function helping kids focus, learn, and retain information in school.
Lasting Energy
Whole fruits and vegetables provide clean, sustained energy so kids can stay active all day.
Stronger Defenses
The vitamins and antioxidants in colorful produce strengthen the immune system, keeping kids healthier all year-round.
Better Mood
Nutritious food supports emotional wellbeing, helping children feel calmer, more confident, and ready to grow.
Get Involved
Good2Grow is a community effort. Whether you want to support a child directly through our garden kit program or push for systemic change at the policy level, there is a place for you in this mission.
Write to Your Representative
Contact your Pennsylvania state representative or city council member and ask them to support nutrition education funding in Philadelphia schools. Use the template below as a starting point.
Find Your PA Representative →Contact Your U.S. Congressperson
Reach out to your federal representative about expanding the USDA's farm-to-school and nutrition education programs. These are federally funded and can reach millions of kids.
Find Your U.S. Representative →Share Good2Grow
Tell a teacher, a parent, a neighbor, or your school principal about Good2Grow. Word of mouth is powerful. Every person who hears this story is another potential advocate.
Start Your Own Garden
Growing something, anything, is an act of advocacy. It proves that fresh food can come from anywhere: a windowsill, a fire escape, a community plot. Learn how to start.
Sample Advocacy Letter
Dear [Representative's Name],
My name is [Your Name], and I am a resident of [Your City/District]. I am writing to urge you to support legislation that integrates nutrition and food education into standard K–12 school curriculum in Pennsylvania.
Food insecurity affects over 90,000 children in Philadelphia alone. Research shows that children who learn about nutrition, food origins, and basic cooking skills are more likely to make healthier choices and experience better long-term health outcomes. Countries like Japan and the United Kingdom have already made food education a mandatory part of their national curriculum with proven results.
I am asking you to champion programs like farm-to-school initiatives, school garden funding, and nutrition literacy education. These investments do not just feed children — they empower them. I would welcome the opportunity to speak with you or your staff further about this issue.
Thank you for your time and service to our community.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Your Email]
Feel free to personalize this letter with your own story and send it by email, post, or through your representative's official website contact form.
Grow Tomatoes on Your Windowsill
No backyard? No garden? No problem! All you need is a sunny window, a small pot, and a little patience. Follow these seven steps and you'll be harvesting your own tomatoes in the city.
Gather Your Supplies
A pot at least 6 inches deep, potting soil, cherry tomato seeds, and a south-facing sunny window.
Fill Your Pot with Soil
Fill almost to the top, leaving about an inch of space. Press the soil down gently so it's compact and ready.
Plant Your Seeds
Make a small hole ½ inch deep. Drop in 2–3 seeds, cover gently with soil, and give the top a soft pat.
Water Gently
Water until the soil feels damp not soaking wet. Think of it as giving your seeds a drink, not a bath. Repeat every 2–3 days.
Place in a Sunny Spot
Set your pot on a sunny windowsill. South-facing windows get the most light in Philly. Your seeds need 6+ hours of sun a day.
Watch & Wait
In 5–10 days you'll see tiny green sprouts emerging. Keep watering consistently and give your plant a little encouragement!
Harvest Time!
In 60–80 days your cherry tomatoes will turn bright red. When they feel slightly soft and come off the vine easily — they're ready. Rinse and enjoy.
Plant FAQ
Does something look off? Almost every windowsill problem comes down to light, water, or warmth.
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Recipes Made with Good2Grow
Every vegetable you grow can become something delicious. These recipes were created specifically for the Good2Grow program: simple, fresh, and made with ingredients you can grow right on your windowsill.
Resources for Philly Families
Food insecurity is real but so is the network of support around you. These organizations serve families across Philadelphia from emergency food assistance to community gardens.
Philabundance
One of Philadelphia's largest food banks. Offers emergency food assistance, fresh produce distribution, and community programs for families in need across the region.
Visit Philabundance →Philly Community Gardens
Philadelphia has over 300 community gardens. Many are free to join and welcome beginners and children. This is a fun and natural next step after your first windowsill tomato.
Find a garden →Philadelphia School Meals
Free and reduced-price breakfast and lunch are available at all Philadelphia public schools for qualifying students. No child should go to school hungry.
School meal info →Share Food Program
Provides nutritious food packages for families throughout Philadelphia, with multiple distribution sites across North Philly and other underserved neighborhoods.
Visit Share Food →Good2Grow in Action
Seedlings started at home, beds planted with kids, and the first tomatoes coming off the vine.
Hi, I'm Heather Kaplan
I’m a senior in high school and I have loved gardening for as long as I can remember. My mom and I would often spend our afternoons together in the garden exploring, weeding, and harvesting. From a young age I recognized the impact the garden had on me, from the physical benefits of nutritious produce to the mental benefits like the satisfaction of watching my consistency be rewarded with a plentiful bounty. These moments taught me that growing your own food is something truly magical. It’s patience, care, science, and joy all at once.
When I learned about the scale of food insecurity in Philadelphia, I was struck by a sobering reality: 27% of children in my own city don’t know where their next meal is coming from. I realized that my passion could help address that need. Through Good2Grow, I want to empower others to grow their own fresh food and inspire them to make healthier choices for the diet and health.
I believe every kid in Philadelphia deserves to feel the same wonder I felt watching something grow from a seed. Knowledge is the most lasting gift I can give and I am excited to share mine with others!
My Vision for the Future
Good2Grow is more than garden kits: it's a blueprint. My long-term vision is to see nutrition and cooking education integrated into every American school, similarly to reading or math.
While improving the food system through regulation is important, some of the most lasting changes begin at the foundation. Awareness and education encourage children to recognize the role food plays in their overall health and inspire them to nourish themselves and their communities.
We need to focus the root cause, not just the symptoms.
Japan: Shokuiku
Japan's "Basic Law of Shokuiku" requires all public schools to provide education on nutrition, food origin, and food culture. School lunches are treated as a "living textbook" meaning that every meal is a lesson. The result is one of the healthiest nations on earth.
United Kingdom: Cooking as Curriculum
In the UK, cooking and nutrition classes are mandatory for all students ages 5–14 under the national curriculum. Children graduate with practical life skills that directly impact their health.
The United States: Our Opportunity
Nearly 70% of an American child's diet is ultra-processed. In most comparable countries that figure is below 20%. Embedding food literacy into our schools would be one of the highest-impact public health investments we could make as a nation.
Our Partner
Weavers Way Co-op
Thank you to Weavers Way Co-op for partnering with Good2Grow and supporting our work with kids and families in Philadelphia.
Visit Weavers Way →