Living Curriculum
Welcome to the Garden of Eatin'®
A comprehensive, seasonally inspired, 0-5 early childhood education program for developing
healthy habits and discovering an early connection with nature.
It has been well established that the first five years of a child’s life are crucial in setting the foundation for health and well being across the entire lifespan. Yet studies show that most children do not eat the daily recommended amount of fresh fruits and vegetables.
The Garden of Eatin’® Living Curriculum instills healthy habits and weaves a culture of wellness into preschool learning programs by teaching children and their families to make healthy food choices through a unique, hands-on garden-based curriculum. Children learn to plant, nurture, harvest, prepare, and eat fresh fruits and vegetables that they have grown, while also using the garden as an active landscape to explore, discover, and play.
Aimed at setting the course for a lifetime of healthy choices, this unique learning program creates an awareness among children that learning about what you eat is as important as knowing one’s letters and numbers. Children as young as six weeks old can begin to develop critical learning skills and healthy, lifelong nutritional habits.
When young children are meaningfully
involved in the process of planting
and harvesting seasonal fruits and
vegetables, their appetite for real food
develops; and in turn, instills healthy
habits and behaviors for a lifetime
of good health.
Age Appropriate Curriculum Levels:
Available in English and Spanish!
Curriculum Components
GOE Lesson Plan
The Garden of Eatin’® Living Curriculum follows evidence-based ECE standards and best practices. The curriculum aligns with California state standards and identifies DRDP measures within each lesson.
Instructional strategies are presented in four seasonal educational modules covering 12 months of related garden, nutrition, and nature-based lessons. Each module contains healthy recipes that can be easily prepared at home or school. Seasonal weekly lessons teach children the essential learning concepts designed to deepen their understanding and connections to healthy living.
Garden of Eatin” Living Curriculum staff have gone above and beyond teaching us the importance of healthy eating. We have worked enthusiastically as a team while having fun planting, harvesting, and taking our food from the garden…to the table! We have learned to use our food in different recipes.
- Teacher, I never tried this and I like it.
- The strawberries are not red yet. Can we eat green strawberries?
- We want to eat more green beans.
- Can we go outside to eat? I like the gardens!
North Bay Children’s Center
932 C Street, Novato, CA 94949 415.883.6222
14 North Bay Locations
Novato • Petaluma • Rohnert Park • Sonoma • Santa Rosa • Healdsburg
Paivi works with the NBCC program, senior leadership, and human resource teams on Professional and Workforce Development to support the professional growth of teachers and center leaders and to build sustainable early childhood education workforce models of excellence. She manages training compliance, child development permit obtainment, renewal and upgrading and educational stipends and professional benefits. She also manages NBCC’s Apprentice, Apprentice Mentor, and Internship programs in Marin and Sonoma Counties and collaborates with Community Colleges, Apprentice Program Employer Partners and other NBCC Community Partners. Paivi received her Master of Science degree in Curriculum/Early Childhood Education from California State University East Bay. She holds a Vocational Teacher certification from Finland and a Life Children’s Center Supervision Permit from the CA Commission on Teacher Credentialing. She has over 30 years of experience in nonprofit administration, early childhood program advancement, teaching, mentoring and leadership development in the United States and in Finland.
Mariah has worked in the insurance industry since her adolescence. Less than a week after graduating college, she accepted a position at Arrow as an Associate. During the last 13 years, Mariah has worked in almost every position available at Arrow to learn the intricacies of the business and build her skill set. Mariah has helped companies from start-up to enterprise-levels review market options and elect benefit programs that allow those companies to recruit and retain top level employees. Outside of the office, Mariah is passionate about her work in the community. Mariah focuses on organizations that work to create limitless opportunities for children and the handicap able community. She is proud to serve as the Board Chair for NBCC. In her free time, Mariah is the mother of two beautiful little dudes, married to a Kaiser numbers nerd and enjoys going on horseback rides around the Bay Area.
Jill St. Peter brings four decades of experience to the field of early childhood education. With a diverse background that includes roles as a Teacher, Site Supervisor, Early Learning Coach, Trainer, and her current position as Curriculum and Training Director, Jill has consistently demonstrated her unwavering commitment to early childhood education. Jill holds a Master of Arts degree in Education and Bachelor of Arts degree in Child Development. This commitment to academic excellence underscores her dedication to advancing the field and ensuring the well-being of young children and educators. Jill is certified by West Ed as a trainer for the Program for Infant and Toddler Care and Beginning Together Inclusion. She is also certified by the Center for Optimal Brain Integration as a Trauma Informed Care Trainer. Her expertise has been showcased at esteemed conferences such as NAEYC, CAEYC, and Head Start. Her involvement in professional communities underscores her dedication to continuous improvement and collaboration. Jill has been an active member of the California Coaching Advisory Group, Trauma Informed Care Community of Practice, Sonoma County Quality Counts Consortia, Region 1 Coaching Community of Practice Leader, Sonoma County Coaching Collaborative, Hope and Healing Early Learning Collaborative, and the Evening of Honor committee. Jill’s passion for early childhood education and her extensive experience makes her an asset to the field, continually inspiring and supporting educators their mission to provide the best possible start for young children.
