School Gardens are a Gift that Keeps on Giving

Gardens can be utilized by all grades and content areas.  They can serve as laboratories,an area for classes to explore concepts through an interdisciplinary approach using real word experiences, inspiration to artists, or a place for a moment of peace in a busy day for one to collect one's thoughts. 

With all of this in a garden's favor, it seems like every school would have one, but instead of being common, they are the exception.  There are a few reasons for that.  There is the start up expense, figuring out maintenance issues, developing curriculum for the space and adjusting the mindset of the school to see learning spaces outside of the walls of the school.  Even with all of this in place the sheer thought of actually implementing a school garden can be daunting.  This is not a project that can or should be run by one person.  This is a project that will help build the community of the school as it works together with each other and hopefully outside partnerships.  Many times a school will consider the idea of building a school garden, develop a small team to look into the possibility and then for one reason or another the idea will evaporate. 

School gardens should be a staple in schools.  One major road block is not being able to all the information that is needed in a convenient area.  We have begun to develop a collection of helpful websites and organizing them through Symbaloo.  To visit our Symbaloo page click here.

We have organized the information in 5 general categories: general information, specific projects, networks, curriculum already developed, how to get started.

Happy gardening.