UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — About 1.7 million Pennsylvanians — including nearly half a million children — face food insecurity. That’s one in eight residents and one in six children across the commonwealth who lack consistent access to enough nutritious food for an active, healthy life. The effects of hunger can be far-reaching. Hunger increases risks for chronic diseases, hospitalization and higher health care costs.
Penn State Extension’s Master Gardener "Seed to Supper" program is working to change that, one garden at a time. As Penn State celebrates its 11th GivingTuesday on Dec. 2, program leaders are inviting community members to support this effort to expand food access across Pennsylvania.
The program teaches adults across the state how to grow their own vegetables on a budget. Through partnerships with local food banks, community organizations and Extension’s food, families and communities unit, Master Gardeners provide free, research-based gardening education that builds food literacy, resilience and community connection.
Designed for vegetable gardeners of all levels, Seed to Supper offers hands-on lessons in vegetable gardening fundamentals, such as soil preparation, garden planning, planting, maintenance and harvest. The course also promotes self-sufficiency, especially as many households face uncertainty around food assistance programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Classes typically run two hours per week for six to eight weeks. Each session combines classroom instruction with hands-on activities. Participants receive free course materials, though some counties may charge a small fee for hands-on activity supplies. Extension educators also share nutrition, cooking and food preservation tips to help participants take their harvest to the dinner plate.
The program, adapted from a model developed by the Oregon Food Bank and Oregon State University Extension Service, is offered free of charge to qualifying adults. Penn State Extension Master Gardeners customized the coursebook to reflect Pennsylvania’s gardening conditions. In evaluations, participants have called it “excellent,” “handy” and “a great resource.”
A 2025 survey of the 574 applicants from 37 Pennsylvania counties showed overwhelmingly positive feedback. Participants praised the instructors’ knowledge, the hands-on learning and the welcoming atmosphere. Results indicated that 97% of participants plan to grow their own food, 100% increased their gardening knowledge and 84% expect to eat more vegetables. Nearly nine in 10 said they connected with others through the program.
“The Master Gardeners were incredibly knowledgeable and willing to share that knowledge,” one participant said. “Everyone was so nice and welcoming for us beginners.”
Looking ahead, Seed to Supper program leader Kinorea Tigri, Master Gardener coordinator in Mercer and Crawford counties, plans to continue growing the program with more counties in 2026 to address food security. “As the program has grown, it is becoming evident there is a continued need for education around growing vegetables on a budget,” she said.
Penn State Extension Master Gardeners work toward enhancing the food supply and supporting rural health and community well-being through research-based education. The Seed to Supper program is one way they accomplish these goals.
“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 cover coursebook and program delivery costs, the Penn State Extension Master Gardener Program is seeking financial support on GivingTuesday.
“Master Gardeners are a crucial part of a community committed to positive change and creating opportunities for all,” Faust said. “Your contribution plants the seeds for lasting change. Your support makes it possible.”
Although GivingTuesday takes place on Tuesday, Dec. 2, those interested in contributing now to the Seed to Supper program can make an early gift on the University’s GivingTuesday event page. Click “Make Your Gift Early” on the event page and in the designation box, search for “Master Gardener Program."
More information about the Seed to Supper program is available on the Penn State Extension website.
Gifts made on GivingTuesday will advance the University’s historic land-grant mission to serve and lead. Through philanthropy, alumni and friends are helping students to join the Penn State family and prepare for lifelong success; driving research, outreach and economic development that grow our shared strength and readiness for the future; and increasing the University’s impact for families, patients and communities across the commonwealth and around the world. Learn more by visiting raise.psu.edu.