Best Practices for School Gardens Giving you the tools to overcome the challenges and be successful By Mary Dudley
focused around these initiatives is palpable. While this recent surge is inspiring, it is by no means novel. Using nature to teach students biology, ecology, life cycles, genetics, soil sci- ence, etc. has always been a facet of quality education. There are mountains of research that point to the benefits. Gardening with students can be daunting. School gar-
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dens suffer from staff transition, rigorous testing schedules, summer maintenance issues and more, but the rewards far outweigh the challenges. Developing a sustainable school garden program starts with careful planning, acknowledge- ment of the challenges and devising strategies to overcome them. This article will give you the tools to get started. Keeping a few basic principles in mind will add to the
overall sustainability of a garden and allow for the school community to participate in the project. Based on several years of research and experience with dozens of school gar- dens, we’ve developed a list of basic steps and best practices for school gardens. We encourage you to incorporate them into your own plans for establishing and sustaining a garden at your school.
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CHOOL GARDENS ARE popping up everywhere! Capturing the attention of the media, parent com- munity and global organizations alike, the excitement
1: Form a Team
Growing a healthy school garden takes more than just seeds and soil. Sustainable school gardens are an integral part of the school community. They rely on the combined efforts of teachers, administrators, facility staff, students and par- ents. Establishing a strong team from the beginning will instill a sense of ownership in the project that will bolster support when times get tough. Gardens that are supported by only one or two individuals often fail. We have worked with schools whose gardens fell into disrepair and neglect because the passionate individual who spearheaded the effort moved on to a new place. We can’t stress it enough: building a solid team should be your first priority and a con- stant part of your school garden project. Identify stakehold- ers who will support the school garden. In addition to those in the school community, include local organizations. They can bolster your assets by donating goods, providing vol- unteers and advertising your gardening achievements. Hold regular meetings and form subcommittees to divide up the work load. While it may seem easier to make decisions with a small group, a sustainable project will have several groups involved. Subcommittees to consider include public rela- tions, financial development, garden maintenance and cur- riculum development. Elect a chair person (or persons) who will be the main liaison for the garden in the larger com-
GREEN TEACHER 109
Mary Dudley
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