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Starting a school garden

 

Why start a school garden

A school garden program can bring nature and agriculture to life on campus. School gardens give young people an opportunity to better understand their relationship with nature, creates a dynamic environment for learning core subjects and promotes cooperation through group activities. A garden often encourages self-confidence and a sense of responsibility. Children become excited about math, history, science and nutrition through gardening experiences. Students have the opportunity to learn about where food really comes from. Parents are given an opportunity to get involved with their child by volunteering in the school garden. Most importantly students can learn by doing, getting their hands dirty, thereby becoming immersed in learning.

 How can the Master Gardeners help?

The Master Gardener program is made up of volunteers throughout San Joaquin County that have completed 17 weeks of rigorous training in varied horticultural topics. The Master Gardener Program is your link to University of California research and program ideas. Master Gardeners are available to consult with your school garden team on how to start and sustain a school garden. School gardens come in many shapes and sizes. Need ideas about what to plant, when to harvest, or want to know what that bug is in your garden? We are here to help you have a successful garden. Please keep in mind that Master Gardeners are not available to do the physical labor in creating a school garden. We want your garden to thrive and grow with the support of teachers, facility, students, and parents. 

Please call Marcy Hachman the Master Gardener Coordinator if you are interested in starting a school garden and would like the help of the Master Gardeners. We have a great binder full of resources that we can give to your school and we are available to consult your school garden team. 209-468-8219

Getting started
The California School Garden Network as a great starter book that is free to all California teachers. Gardens for Learning - Creating and Sustaining Your School Garden. To view this book click here

Statewide Standards
How does a garden fit into your requirements for statewide standards? The California Department of Education has published A Childs Garden of Standards. The PDF is available on line click here to download your copy.  Click here for a complete list of ways to link school gardens to academic standards

Grants and Fundraising - Full of ideas and resources in finding a grant that will work for your school. Make sure to check with all the sites often because they are always adding new grants.

Linking School Gardens to Academic Standards - The curriculum section provides over one hundred garden-based lessons to create, expand, and sustain garden-based learning experiences. It offers practical ideas and resources for every level of garden-based learning from sprouting seeds to understanding the food system.

Web-sites and other great resources- School garden web-sites and resources in starting, reviving, and sustaining your school garden. Also includes resources in school garden curriculum