During the January 2014 School Garden Summit in West Salem, it was suggested by a School Garden Coordinator that localized school gardens would feel more connected and be able to get more support if they were a member of a local support group.
The first pilot regional school garden hub was formed in the Albany area. This pilot group has met approximately every other month, and embarked on many projects as a team: Supporting each other's gardens, touring other gardens in the State, a very successful School Board presentation that resulted in four new school gardens the following month, and planning a "back to school" open house event at their gardens attended by the local media, Mayor, and their School Board.
In 2018, the Oregon Farm to School Network expanded upon the Hub model to create a network of Regional Technical Assistance Coordinators. The Coordinators support regional farm to school efforts and offer an array of technical assistance.
Find your Regional Coordinator
You can find your Regional Coordinator and their contact information through an interactive map on the Oregon Farm to School Network website.