Big Green (non-profit company)

Big Green is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2011 by Kimbal Musk and Hugo Matheson. They operated "The Kitchen restaurant group" believing that every child should have the opportunity to play, learn and grow in healthy communities.

The learning gardens consist of a playground and many outdoor classrooms where children learn the basics of farming. It aims to enhance mindfulness about health and improve communities through the creation of practical, garden-based education opportunities.

History
Big Green was established in 2011 by Kimbal Musk and Hugo Matheson. Its core idea is that school gardens helps boost school children’s fondness for healthy foods. These gardens were conceptualized to assist children in building up better responses to pressures and anxieties and improve learners' academic performance. Its founders intend Big Green to be replicated in other schools and generate a range of school-related solutions. The first learning garden was constructed in Denver, Colorado at Schmitt Elementary.

Learning gardens
A “learning garden” is an outdoor classroom that also serves as a productive garden of edible plants. It is composed of modular, raised beds with seating and shade, providing space for teaching and learning. The gardens are designed to become vehicles for comprehensive mindset change regarding child nourishment, socialization and student achievement. They are also designed to go well with any type of school structure, whether urban or rural.

The food harvested from the learning gardens are sold to restaurants. The activity aims to teach students to become young entrepreneurs and acquire business abilities.

Controversy
Big Green has been accused of illegally discriminating against and firing employees who were unionizing.