Food Forest Classrooms
Shaome Cooperative partners with schools, cities, and community spaces to transform underused land into thriving Food Forest Classrooms — edible ecosystems that feed people, restore soil, and teach hands-on skills for lifelong food security.
- Hands-on learning for all ages
- Perennial crops that feed communities year after year
- Zero-waste, climate-smart, water-wise design
- Real food grown on real land—at schools, universities, public spaces, and backyards across Georgia
Our North Star: Make Georgia the first food-secure state in the nation.
What Is a Food Forest Classroom?
A Food Forest Classroom is a permanent, public learning space designed to grow food, build soil, restore local ecosystems, and equip people with the skills to do the same at home. Each site is intentionally created as both:
• A perennial food system (fruit and nut trees, berries, herbs, pollinator plants, and annual crops)
• A living classroom with hands-on demonstrations, STEM-aligned lessons, and QR-linked micro-learning through Shaome Skool.
These spaces create the perfect blend of education and production:
kids learn science and ecology; adults learn gardening and food security; communities harvest fresh, healthy food.
Why Food Forest Classrooms Matter
Food Forest Classrooms are more than gardens. They are long-term, community-powered food systems that:
Grow Food for Decades
Fruit trees and perennial crops continue producing year after year—with no annual replanting.
Strengthen Communities
Families learn together. Neighbors gather. Children grow up knowing how to grow their own food.
Teach Essential Skills
Each Food Forest Classroom teaches essential skills through a blended learning system: on-site signage with QR codes leads visitors to short audio recaps and a free learning hub on Shaome Skool, where they can review the lesson, dig deeper with curated videos, and access bonus materials. This simple, accessible pathway helps students, families, and community members build real, lifelong food-forest skills—from soil health and water flow to plant layers, succession, and long-term stewardship.
Build Climate-Resilient Landscapes
Food Forest Classrooms mimic natural ecosystems, requiring less water, fewer inputs, and almost no waste.
Zero-waste principles are embedded in every design, from composting and mulching from biomass grown in the Food Forest to native plant integration.
how it works
Site Assessment & design
We walk the land, map sun, wind, and water patterns, note other potential forest threats, and create custom aerial and side-view layouts (our version of a GIS).
Phased Planting (Years 1-3)
Fruit & nut canopy & understory trees
Berries & shrubs
Perennial herbs & vegetables
Pollinator species
Vining plants
Educational Layer
Every site includes
QR-coded microlessons through Shaome Skool
Interpretive signage that turns the space into a self-guided learning trail.
Long-Term Stewardship
We provide ongoing support to ensure the site grows beautifully and sustainably.
Where Food Forest Classrooms Thrive
Food Forest Classrooms are ideal for:
- Universities & research gardens
- City parks & community centers
- Faith-based campuses
- Businesses and corporate campuses
- Neighborhood associations
Anywhere there’s land and a desire to grow food, a Food Forest Classroom can flourish.
Bring a Food Forest Classroom
to Your Community
Shaome is currently seeking:
- New partner sites across Georgia
- Funders who want to invest in long-term food security
Whether you’re a school leader, city official, business, or donor, we’d love to talk. Let’s plant food security together.