Mission & values
OUR MISSION
Land to Learn cultivates connection to food, land, and community by engaging youth in hands-on, garden-based education that nourishes health, ecological awareness, and collective well-being.
our vision
We envision children growing up with deep respect for the land, their communities, and all living things, nourished by nutritious food and inspired to make joyful, culturally-grounded choices about their health. Through inclusive garden-based programs we cultivate resilience, curiosity, and equity in learning, while planting seeds for stronger local food systems, rooted in community, justice, and care for the earth.
our values
Transforming Education
Land to Learn approaches education with awareness of systemic oppression and promotes experiential, place-based, and democratic learning while using restorative justice practices for community building. We honor past wisdom while embracing innovation and change, equally valuing both lived experiences and institutional knowledge in our educational work.
Community Driven
Land to Learn works in diverse communities where many residents are impacted by inequity. We center students, families, and school communities, honor their wisdom and self-determination, and provide the tools, training, and adaptable support needed for them to grow, lead, and nourish lasting change.
Workplace Community
We build trust through compassion, accountability, and reflective practice. We embrace growth, even when it requires discomfort. We communicate honestly and restoratively. We value collaboration and balance power within a hierarchical structure. We center staff well-being, protect work–life balance, and commit to fair, sustainable compensation that honors the value of our team.
Health & Wellbeing
We believe nourishment grows from conscious connection to our food, our bodies, and our communities. We champion a regenerative, local food system that repairs the harm caused by industrial agriculture and supports the health of people and planet. We affirm everyone’s right to fresh, local, culturally relevant food. We make space for mindfulness, reflection, joy, play, wonder, and rest as essential to well-being. We recognize that individual and community wellness are interdependent, and that nourishing food is foundational to both physical and mental health.
Natural Environment
We grow food using regenerative practices without harmful inputs. We support climate-resilient agriculture and honor the ancestral relationship between plants and people. We align our work with nature’s rhythms and honor the interconnectedness of all life. We strive to conserve natural resources rather than extract them, recognizing humans as an integral part of the ecosystem.
Funding
We respectfully represent the communities with whom we work when describing our work to funders and partners. The integrity of our work takes precedence over specific funding opportunities that do not align with our mission and values. We value transparency in our business practices, financial reports, and information about funders.
Spending
We are dedicated to keeping organizational expenses as low as reasonably possible. We exercise socially and environmentally responsible business practices whenever possible.
