By Emily Hennessee
At The Nest Nursery School, food is more than just mealtime—it’s an essential part of nurturing children’s health, curiosity, and connection to the natural world. Thanks to the dedication of teachers, staff, and families, The Nest has built a thriving farm to early care and education program that weaves fresh, local food and gardening into daily life.
Every day, Chef Chloe prepares wholesome, vegetarian meals for students and staff. Families also pitch in—rotating volunteers purchase fruits and vegetables each week from the Grant Park Farmers Market, ensuring children enjoy a wide variety of local foods while supporting area farmers.
The school’s outdoor spaces are just as integral to this approach. The Nature Preserve (also enjoyed by many neighborhood families during the Grant Park Farmers Market), sunny piazza garden, and classroom plots allow children to plant seeds, harvest vegetables, and taste fresh produce right where it grows. One recent highlight was an impromptu cucumber tasting where kids tried cucumbers harvested from the garden plot at the entrance to school. Much of this work is guided by Kate Carlock, The Nest’s Naturalist, who oversees children’s exploration and learning in the greenspaces—helping them connect food, gardening, and play in meaningful ways.
The Nest is also an active participant in the Grant Park Community Garden. Children take part in planting, watering, and harvesting throughout the year. Raw kale was a surprise hit this past spring, proving that when kids are connected to the process, even dark leafy greens can be exciting.
Staff and families alike are deeply grateful for this culture of care. “Speaking from a staff perspective, I am so grateful to have cooked meals every day,” one teacher reflected. “It’s truly incredible—I can have frittata for breakfast and daal with fresh veggies for lunch in the same day.” A parent added, “The delicious, healthy food is one of the greatest parts of The Nest culture. Thank you to those who nourish our children’s bodies and souls.”
For Chef Chloe cooking is more than a job: “I feel so lucky that I get to be creative and feed these kids. I can’t think of a better cooking gig. I truly love to cook, and I put a lot of love into the food at The Nest.”
As we celebrate Farm to School Month this October, The Nest community continues to highlight the importance of fresh, local food in early childhood education—showing that gardens, markets, and shared meals can be just as essential to learning as books and blocks.
