1006 2006 Why establish a school garden? Promoting life-long healthy eating habits School gardens have the potential to be enjoyed by people of all ages All 5 senses are engaged in hands-on learning Enriching curriculum And so much more! Sustainability Garden Coordinator(s) to oversee Garden o Students o School Staff and Administration o Parents o Community Daily/Weekly Needs During the School Year o Recess Garden Club o Afterschool Garden Club Summer o Weekly Gardening Day o Summer Class & Summer Garden Club o Families sign up to tend to garden weekly Student Engagement This is the student s garden! Give them ownership and responsibility. Students are apart of every phase of garden planning and building. o Planning o Building beds o Moving soil o Planting o Watering o Tending o Harvesting o Eating Letter writing campaign to area businesses and community organizations requesting donations Hold a school vote for name of the garden Assist in designing garden spaces Planning of garden o What vegetables and flowers to plant? o What do the students like to eat? o What can their family (easily) grow or purchase for their own dinner table? Signs in garden to identify plants, etc. Recess Garden Club Afterschool Garden Club 1
School Staff / Class Engagement Enriching the current curriculum Class time in gardens o Observations What do the students see happening? What is new in the garden this week? o Measuring Plant growth Weed growth Rainfall Weighing harvest Counting harvest o Tasks to get done Watering Weeding Harvesting o Experiencing the garden Draw the garden Different colors, shapes, patterns Bringing the garden inside to the classroom Timeline of Planting o Seedlings o Direct sow School Year and Growing Season Garden based projects o Soil o Plants o Tastings o Experiments o Chefs / Local Farmers into Classroom Placement of gardens Sunshine, shade, air movement, water source o Ideally nearby for School Community to experience daily Safety of students and gardens o Be aware of (and limit) sharp edges and corners on beds and fences o Building and grounds approval to make sure the garden does not interfere with snow plowing, mowing, future building projects Aesthetics of gardens o In ground or raised beds? Soil Quality o In ground or raised beds? 2
Other considerations: o rain barrel o tool shed o compost bin o gathering area and benches Relationship to adjoining spaces o Slope of garden space and surrounding area o Playgrounds o Ball fields o Predators o Parking lots/driveways, (car oils runoff, salt runoff) Size of gardens Bed width up to 4, to allow reaching in to the middle without stepping into bed Bed length up to 12. Need to be able to move to other side easily, efficiently and safely At least 10 deep of soil Beds should be kept to a size not larger than 4 x12. If a bed needs to be replaced, this is easily done at this size. Damage by insects, animals, people or machinery can occur Beds at least 5 apart from each other for easy movement and accessibility Grass, woodchips on ground for accessibility for all Materials Funding / Obtaining o Material Donations o Monetary Donations o Wish List Families and local businesses Lumber o Cedar or untreated Pine Hardware Garden Tools o Watering containers / cans o Hand trowels o Shovel o Spading fork Fencing o For predators o For climbing plants o Give the garden a sense of place o Security Soil o Clean, well-drained soil o Blend of 60% topsoil; 40% compost. Ratio can vary. o 4 x 8 x 1 raised bed requires approximately 1.2 cubic yards of soil 3
Insect Control Plants that attract / detract the garden pests. Ex. zinnia s, marigolds Garden Helpers Families o Making the connection to the family is key o Education of healthy eating starts at home Retired teachers Community members Master Gardeners AmeriCorps Farm to School Service Members FFA high school Universities The Produce & Flowers - Who, how, when, where will the food be enjoyed? Students Families School cafeteria Local food pantry Community events The Garden Area - Near and around the garden Safe, inviting and welcoming to come, experience the garden Tree cookies and/or logs for paths, sitting areas, climbing Shade for garden helpers, to read, to create art, to visit, to just be Plant Materials - All 5 senses engaged. Flowers Herbs Produce o Familiar foods that students are familiar with and easily accessible for their family to purchase or grow o Introduce new fun/exotic plants Environmental Education throughout the Garden Bird baths and feeders Bee homes Bat houses Plants for pollinators Insects Sustainable practices 4
1006 2006 Publicize the efforts and results School District Website School Garden Blog Create Garden Book for school library Local newspapers Social media Defining the Roles and Responsibilities of all involved defined = Success! in Greater Jefferson County Barrie Elementary School, Fort Atkinson Cambridge Elementary School, Cambridge Jefferson West Elementary, Jefferson Lake Mills Elementary, Lake Mills *establishing Spring 2016 LINCS Elementary School, Whitewater Purdy Elementary School, Fort Atkinson Riverside Middle School, Watertown Severson Learning Center Farm, Cambridge Further Resources UW Extension Publications - http://learningstore.uwex.edu/assets/pdfs/a3905-06.pdf Wisconsin Master Gardener Program - http://wimastergardener.org Community GroundWorks - http://www.communitygroundworks.org Kids Gardening - http://www.kidsgardening.org Whole Kids Foundation - https://www.wholekidsfoundaton.org Life Lab - http://www.lifelab.org/for-educators/schoolgardens/ The Edible Schoolyard Project - https://edibleschoolyard.org/resources-tools 5