Dawes School Manual for Garden Volunteers. Adapted from Granny s Garden School with many thanks for their pioneering efforts

Transcription

1 Dawes School Manual for Garden Volunteers Adapted from Granny s Garden School with many thanks for their pioneering efforts

2 Table of Contents Welcome Our Story What can you expect if you are a SAGE School Garden Volunteer? What is the role of the SAGE Garden Coordinator? Training and Garden Updates Scheduling of classes/what if it rains? How We Communicate Planting and Harvesting Tips for working with classes Dress Like a Gardener Location of Tools and Equipment Tell us how it went Composting Watering What are the basic garden etiquette rules to discuss with the students? Tool Safety First Aid

3 Welcome Over a dozen edible school gardens exist in Evanston, in various stages of development, and success in implementing their programs depends on volunteers like you. We are very grateful for your interest in working with SAGE as a School Garden Volunteer. We believe that there is no better way to teach about healthy food choices than in an edible school garden where children learn literally from the ground-up how healthy soil means healthy food means healthy bodies means a healthier community. As Alice Waters says of the edible school garden movement, This is a delicious revolution. And who can t support that as a wonderful learning environment? Our Story Throughout Evanston, school communities have taken on the exciting work of creating edible school gardens, managing them, and providing students with opportunities to learn about healthy food by growing and eating what they have planted. With broad community support for these efforts, particularly that of Keep Evanston Beautiful, Inc, these gardens are flourishing and enriching learning experiences for children throughout the curriculum. SAGE (Schools Are Gardening in Evanston) came into being in 2009 as a means to support the long term sustainability of these edible school garden programs and in this way promote a healthier future for our children. SAGE is heartened by the continuing opportunities for collaboration with other groups. This makes real our vision of edible school gardens as learning communities that are creating an awareness of the importance and pleasure of eating fresh, local food. What can you expect to do if you are a School Garden Volunteer? School Garden Volunteers teach the garden lesson with the assistance of the classroom teacher. It is the Volunteer s responsibility to arrive one half hour before class to set up and stay after the lesson to make sure all materials and equipment are returned to the garden shed and it is locked. The Garden Coordinator will let you know what to do beforehand, but the activity is also available on the SAGE website (Google: Evanston School Gardens) for previewing so that you have an idea of what the class will do. The work will be divided up among the adults. This helps keep the students focus on the task and keeps the activity on schedule. We stress with students that garden time is class time. We appreciate your consideration of this as well. Remember to keep the conversation on topic.

4 What is the role of the School Garden Coordinator? The role of the SGC is to oversee the on-going development and implementation of the garden program as well as manage the grounds. While she may not be present during lesson sessions, she will see that everything is in order before your arrival so on stepping into the garden you find everything at hand to teach the lesson. Her role includes making sure that you have detailed lesson plans, that the garden shed is well organized, and the weekly garden activity schedule is organized. She will facilitate communication between you and the teacher with whom you will work. She will be available by phone or to address any concerns or questions that you might have. Training and Garden Updates SAGE will provide the training required of Garden Volunteers. In training, not only are basic organic gardening techniques taught but also the lesson plans are thoroughly reviewed, class management tips are discussed, and on site training will be provided. SAGE will send garden updates via to volunteers and teachers about the upcoming schedule and points of interest in the gardens, what is available for harvest, teaching tips, and special events around the garden. Scheduling of Garden Classes It is the responsibility of the SGC to develop the weekly schedule of classes coming to the garden. (see attached template) Volunteers need to make known their available times and dates to the SGC and she will work with the teachers to find a slot that works for both of you. She then confirms the date with both you and the teacher. Once a Volunteer accepts an assignment we ask that she/he communicate with the assigned teacher by , phone call, or by stopping by the classroom before or after school to introduce oneself. This serves as a confirmation of the garden time and reinforces that you will meet the teacher and the class in the garden on the scheduled date. If it is necessary to cancel due to the weather, the SGC will assist in rescheduling.

5 How We Communicate is our primary source for communication. Please check your regularly, read notifications carefully, and reply in a timely manner if requested, and we will do the same. Garden updates, as mentioned above, are also sent via . Planting & Harvesting We plant only food crops in the raised beds. Some plants like corn, squash, and potatoes take up a lot of space and are planted in areas outside the garden beds. For example, potatoes are planted in the northeast plot. You will notice perennial raspberry bushes planted at the west end of the garden. Planting and/or harvesting instructions are included with each lesson. Tips for Working With Students Welcome students at the gate and remind them that they are stepping into a special classroom. Introduce yourself using the form address consistent with a school setting (ex. Ms. Jones, Mr. Perez, etc.) Solicit a few ideas from the children about what they need to keep in mind while in the garden. Invite the students to step into the garden and explain the days activities. Dawes s students are familiar with the garden work but due to the many attractions in the outdoor classroom, you will still need to continually re-focus their attention on the lesson and on appropriate behavior. To optimize the learning experience divide the class into two groups to work in the raised beds. Enlist the assistance of the classroom teacher and any other volunteer who maybe on hand to share their expertise. Model positive ways for students to engage and respond to each other. (Ex. It s teamwork that is getting this job accomplished. I like how Trevor is helping Emma with planting. ) Dress like a Gardener Come prepared to get dirty. Even if it isn't muddy, you may be working in the soil, with compost or straw, or moving supplies around. Dress in layers on cool days. You warm up quickly as you get to work.

6 Wear athletic style shoes or boots. Shoes and sandals with open toes or heels will not properly protect your feet.. Keep purses and other personal items in the car You won't have to worry about where you put them down. Please note - Garden Volunteers must sign in at the school office before making their way to the garden. Proceed to the garden after signing in. In the garden shed you will find a badge with your name on it. Please wear the badge while working with the students and store it in the shed on your departure. Location of Tools and Other Equipment The Dawes Garden Shed houses most of our equipment. It contains garden tools, seeds, plant markers, wheelbarrows, gloves, a copy of this manual, clipboards with important updates, empty sheets for feedback, etc. A well organized shed is critical for volunteers who need to have tools and other equipment at hand. Please take time to provide feedback if you are not finding what you need or have difficulty locating materials or equipment. Tell Us How It Went (form to be added here) Feedback from you is essential to improving our program. Our program has evolved because of help from individuals and organizations like Granny s Garden School, The Edible Acre (at ETHS) and the The Edible Schoolyard. Let us know how the lesson went, how long it took to prepare for, teach, and clean up after the class. Garden Teacher Volunteers can complete an activity report that is located on the clip board in the garden shed or the Garden Educator/Coordinator if that is easier. Composting - General Rules We compost selectively. Weeds are not composted and instead are bagged for disposal. Also any very fibrous material (ex. sunflower stalks) should not be put in the compost bin but bagged as well. When full, haul the bags to the dumpster in back of the school. (Older children can do this using wheelbarrows.) Otherwise store them in the shed until ready for disposal. Watering A state of the art, drip irrigation system is in place at Dawes that is on a timer. There is also access to a water box for linking up a hose. (On site training will

7 familiarize you with this system.) For Garden Volunteers watering cans will be filled with water and available when needed. What are the basic garden etiquette rules in the garden? Be here. Be ready. Be safe. Be respectful. Remind the children that their class can earn a Power Pin by remembering to let the above rules guide their actions in the garden. Treat garden organisms with respect Be aware of others space needs while working in the garden Walk throughout the garden and stay on paths where they are in place Only take or pick plants when given permission Protect the fragile raised beds by not sitting or standing on them. Tool Safety Tools not used correctly can be lethal instruments and cause serious injury. Stress the importance of never raising tools above knee level. Sharp points need to face down. Model safe behavior with tools and meticulously enforce rules for everyone s safety. Familiarize the children with where to collect and store tools when they complete their work. First Aid Kit Children are not allowed to enter the shed. A First Aid Kit is readily accessible in the Garden Shed. However, during the school day, the Health Clerk is on duty. If the teacher and/or you agree that attention is needed, that student should be sent/taken to the school nurse as the situation dictates.

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