The Garden Kitchen - University of Arizona Pima County Coop Ext
The Garden Kitchen - University of Arizona Pima County Coop Ext is a culinary school serving Tucson, AZ.
About The Garden Kitchen - University of Arizona Pima County Coop Ext
The Garden Kitchen, a University of Arizona Cooperative Extension program, provides culinary and whole health education in Tucson and throughout Pima County. Its work connects gardening, cooking, nutrition, and physical activity through classes, events, community programs, and online resources. The program works with community members, organizations, and governments, with a stated goal of helping Pima County residents build community wellness and make healthier choices.
The Garden Kitchen describes its approach as whole health, recognizing that wellness includes the mind, body, and spirit. Its programming addresses food security, access to fresh foods, physical activity, mindfulness, community engagement, and storytelling. In its classes, participants can learn about the steps involved in bringing a healthy meal to the table, including growing food, shopping on a budget, finding local food sources, storing ingredients to preserve freshness, and preparing quick meals that families can make together.
The program offers hands-on culinary classes in an interactive setting, with instruction in kitchen skills and techniques. Family cooking classes are also part of its events, extending the learning experience to households. The Garden Kitchen's website includes recipes organized by meal, food category, and season, along with a cookbook, produce handout, cottage food information, and gardening resources. These materials support the program's emphasis on practical knowledge that can be used at home, whether someone is beginning to cook and garden or already has experience.
Gardening is another central part of the program. The Garden Kitchen hosts a community gardening hour every Thursday, giving local residents an opportunity to learn more about home gardening and harvest. Its PLAZA Mobile Market, short for Promoting Local AZ Agriculture, operates as a mobile farmers market offering fresh, affordable, locally grown fruits and vegetables. The organization also works with partners on policy, systems, and environmental change intended to make healthier choices more feasible for community members. Additional resources connect residents with farmers markets, nutrition benefits programs, food security information, employment resources, and other community wellness support.
The Garden Kitchen was established through a partnership among the City of South Tucson, Pima County, and the University of Arizona. Its programming is offered across Pima County, and proceeds from its hands-on cooking classes support free programming in food, fitness, and gardening education. Events and classes are listed through the program's website, which also provides recipes and gardening information. People outside Pima County can use the online resources and partners page to look for similar education in their own areas. The program also acknowledges Tucson's connection to the O'odham and Yaqui peoples and the University of Arizona's stated commitment to relationships with sovereign Native Nations and Indigenous communities.