Did you know Coupeville has a working school farm where students can learn to grow, cook, and eat their own produce—all during the school day? And this incredible hands-on learning environment is made possible through the Coupeville Farm to School Program, a small but mighty nonprofit that’s planting the seeds of lifelong health in Island County.
Although there were no students on-site when we visited, Program Director Paige Mueller gave us a tour of the thriving space and shared the heart behind this unique program. Coupeville Farm to School began as a steering committee in 2013 and officially took root as a nonprofit in 2018. Its mission? To connect kids and families with food through the garden, farm, classroom, cafeteria, and community.
The school farm itself—acquired just three years ago through a USDA grant—has become the core of this mission. It’s not just a garden, but a full learning environment where students engage with every step of the food journey. From “food courage” (trying new and unfamiliar foods!) to composting and cooking, the lessons go far beyond the plate.
Today, the elementary program is well-established, with weekly garden classes built into the school day. Thanks to recent growth and a new classroom space at the secondary campus, middle and high school students are now gaining more opportunities through after-school programming and tutorial periods.
We also learned something fascinating from Paige: while it’s widely known that school food programs often run at a financial loss, Coupeville’s school meal program loses significantly less than others—largely because of its commitment to scratch cooking and integration with the farm. That means students are eating real, fresh, often student-grown ingredients in their meals. Pretty amazing!
Connecting to Community Health
Coupeville Farm to School was awarded a Community Health Grant from Whidbey Community Foundation to help expand its reach—particularly among older students—and deepen its impact. This aligns beautifully with WCF’s goal of addressing long-term health outcomes through upstream approaches like education, nutrition access, and behavioral support.
Studies show that school garden and food literacy programs can positively impact children’s willingness to eat fruits and vegetables, reduce obesity risk, and even influence household habits. By connecting youth to nutritious, whole foods—through gardening, cooking, and classroom-based learning—Coupeville Farm to School is promoting healthier choices, healthier bodies, and stronger community connections.
Funding from the Community Health Grant is supporting general operations for the program, allowing staff to grow after-school programming at the secondary campus, increase adaptive garden lessons for students with disabilities, and continue to offer farm-based learning for students across the district.
This isn’t just a food or garden program—it’s a powerful model of community-driven, health-focused education that cultivates not only healthy eating habits, but also connection, agency, and resilience.
Learn more at www.coupevillefarm2school.org
Support Community Health Grants
WCF’s Community Health Grant Program is dedicated to improving the well-being of Whidbey Island residents by addressing key factors that shape a thriving, healthy community. These grants support projects and organizations that enhance access to healthcare, promote healthy behaviors, strengthen social and economic stability, and improve environmental conditions that impact health. By funding initiatives that eliminate barriers to health and opportunity, WCF strives to create a more equitable and resilient community—one where every individual has the support needed to live a healthy, fulfilling life.
WCF is able to provide grants like these with broad support from our community. If you are interested in supporting the Community Health Grant Program, we ask that you make a contribution to WCF’s Foundation Fund which holistically supports our grant programs, nonprofit trainings/workshops, and WCF operations. WCF’s Board of Directors allocates funding each year toward our grant programs. WCF is a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to Whidbey Island; all donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Learn about different ways to make a charitable contribution here.