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Black circular logo with a white skull in the center and text around it that reads "WELCOME TO PEACE TO" and "ECOOL EARTH".

Creating garden-based education programs that power happy, healthy & smart youth.

Who We Are

​Founded in 2001, One Cool Earth is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization rooted in the belief that every child deserves a place to grow. We support lifelong wellness and environmental stewardship for families and youth from birth through young adulthood, cultivating a thriving, resilient community - one garden at a time. 

Get Involved
Get Involved

What We Do

Here at One Cool Earth we build, create and sustain garden classrooms across San Luis Obispo County and Santa Barbara County. Learn more about our programming below! 

A woman with curly hair and glasses smiling and talking to a young girl raising her hand in a classroom. The girl has brown hair and is touching her neck. There are children sitting at a table and a whiteboard with colorful drawings and notes in the background.
A woman with curly hair and glasses smiling and talking to a young girl raising her hand in a classroom. The girl has brown hair and is touching her neck. There are children sitting at a table and a whiteboard with colorful drawings and notes in the background.

Central Coast School Garden Programming

Explore the Program
A close-up of a person's hand with a butterfly resting on their finger, with a child's face in the background outdoors, surrounded by green foliage.

Play Grove, Early Childhood Program

Visit Play Grove
Group of children and adults enjoying an outdoor gathering on a large blanket in a grassy field with trees and hills in the background. There are cups, a plant, and a paper with words on it on the blanket.
Group of children and adults enjoying an outdoor gathering on a large blanket in a grassy field with trees and hills in the background. There are cups, a plant, and a paper with words on it on the blanket.

Perinatal & Family Gatherings

Join A Gathering
Two women are exchanging an item in a community garden with green plants and mesh-covered rows of vegetables, surrounded by trees and a wooden building in the background.
Two women are exchanging an item in a community garden with green plants and mesh-covered rows of vegetables, surrounded by trees and a wooden building in the background.

College Mentorship

Learn more
Group of people sitting outdoors on benches and listening to a man speaking, with a mountain and trees in the background.
Group of people sitting outdoors on benches and listening to a man speaking, with a mountain and trees in the background.

Environmental Education Coalition

Join the Coalition

Our Impact

Happy.

Screen time is up. Outdoor time is down. Garden education boosts mental health by getting kids outside - moving, exploring, and connecting with nature.

Healthy.

Most kids aren’t eating enough vegetables; only 2% meet the daily recommendation, but garden programs can triple students' willingness to try new produce.

Smart.

Only 50% of SLO County 5th graders are proficient in science. Our garden program helps bridge this gap by providing hands-on, “learn-by-doing” experiences that bring science to life.

Since 2016…

Infographic with data on garden-based learning and environmental efforts, including number of taste tests, waste diverted from landfills, pounds of produce harvested, family cooking nights, field trips, and lessons taught.

… and still counting.

Our Partner Schools

One Cool Earth serves public schools San Luis Obispo County and Santa Barbara County, reaching communities from San Miguel to Guadalupe and everywhere in between.

Map showing locations in San Miguel, Paso Robles, Templeton, Atascadero, Morro Bay, Guadalupe, and San Luis Obispo with pins marking points of interest, and a star indicating Play Grove.

One Cool Earth’s headquarters, Play Grove, is located in San Luis Obispo.

Find An OCE Partner School Near To You
Find An OCE Partner School Near To You

Testimonials

"My daughter has gained new friends, a wider vocabulary, confidence in herself and a sense of independence since starting here. It’s only been a few months and she’s already grown so much. It’s a beautiful place w beautiful teachers that you can feel really care about their job and your child. I feel very safe leaving her there and would recommend Play Grove to anyone with preschool age children.

- Lauren, Play Grove Parent

"I love to watch the animals’ habitat and help pull out weeds. then I like going to the green house and then eat some of the grapes that the garden teacher harvested. Then I pick up all the trash and put it away where it belongs."

- 4th Grader, Shandon Elementary

“My students and I LOVE our gardens and One Cool Earth instruction. San Benito does not attend a science camp like many other California elementary schools do in 5th grade. Our garden lessons are these kids' greatest opportunity to access hands-on environmental education. Opportunities like these help kids WANT to come to school.”

- Nicole Dale, 3rd grade teacher at San Benito

Line drawing of three potted plants at different stages of growth from seedling to mature plant with leaves.
Text saying 'Support Garden-based Education' in bold, dark blue letters.

Every dollar you donate helps us build and maintain school gardens, deliver hands-on academic lessons, provide materials for student projects, and train educators. This creates meaningful outdoor learning experiences that connect children with nature, healthy food, and their communities.

Donate Today!
Donate Today!
One Cool Earth School Program
One Cool Earth School Program
Kids participating in a One Cool Earth Program.

Learn More

Volunteer
Volunteer
Curriculum
Curriculum
Donate
Donate
Impact Reports
Impact Reports