Inside SEED Miami’s Garden Program: Cultivating Healthy Eating and Student Wellness

What happens when you combine a public boarding school, a passion for gardening, and a mission to transform how we feed students? You get The SEED School of Miami, a truly one-of-a-kind educational model that is cultivating more than just crops. 

In our latest episode of Cafeteria Confessions, we visited SEED Miami, the only public boarding school in Florida. With a 24/5 model, SEED serves students from 6th to 12th grade who live on campus five days a week. It’s a home away from home for many students, many of whom are the first in their families to attend college. 

We sat down with Andi Potamkin, SEED’s Gardening and Resilience Teacher, to learn how this small school with a big mission is making waves in both education and nutrition. 

Cultivating More Than Crops 

What started as a simple idea to plant flowers in an underutilized courtyard has blossomed, literally and figuratively, into a small farm and full-fledged high school course. Andi’s gardening class teaches students how to grow food, cook meals on a modest two-burner setup, and connect with nature in a deeply personal way. Beyond growing herbs, fruits, and vegetables, students are gaining life lessons in patience, responsibility, and resilience. 

Students describe the garden as a “getaway” from the demands of their academic schedule, a peaceful place that teaches them to plant seeds in life, not just in soil. 

The Fight for Scratch-Cooked Meals 

SEED Miami is currently on the cusp of a major transition: launching an on-site, from-scratch kitchen. While many schools rely on prepackaged meals due to the rigid guidelines of the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), SEED is pushing back. 

Andi shared candid insights on the challenges of navigating the NSLP, which favors foods with barcodes and nutrition labels, making it difficult to serve whole, fresh foods without risking reimbursement. But SEED is determined. They're bringing food production on-site and hiring a provider aligned with their vision of wholesome, nourishing meals that go beyond the microwave. 

As Andi put it: “Feeding kids should be easy to do. When kids are growing, it is the most important time to provide them the right foods for their minds and for their bodies.” 

Hearing from the Students 

We didn’t just hear from educators. We also spoke with SEED students about their experiences with food and the garden. While they expressed appreciation for having consistent meals, they voiced valid concerns about portion sizes, variety, and energy levels, especially among student athletes. 

But when they talked about the garden? Their eyes lit up.

Students described it as a source of pride and peace. It was clear this isn’t just a class to them. It’s a movement. From hydroponics to harvesting papayas, the garden empowers them with skills they’re excited to carry into adulthood. 

One student reflected, “When you plant something, you don’t see the results right away. It takes time, care, and effort, but in the end, it’s worth it.” That kind of wisdom is what makes SEED so special. 

A Model Worth Replicating 

SEED Miami’s success lies in its ability to blend education, nourishment, and community into a holistic student experience. Whether it’s through a mock trial club started by board members or the garden partnership with Little River Cooperative, SEED proves that meaningful change happens when you invite others to the table. 

For schools looking to start a similar journey, Andi’s advice is simple: “If you have something to teach, find a school and start a club.” 

At SEED Miami, the seeds being planted are growing more than food. They’re growing the future. Want to hear more? Listen to The SEED School of Miami’s episode on your favorite platform here.