Sustaining School Food Gardens

Successful school food gardens require ongoing collaboration and a thoughtful approach to planning. They are “larger than one person’s passion” and thrive when people come together to plan for the long-term, build and sustain resources, and engage the wider community for support. School food gardens take time to build and require a range of resources including money, people, knowledge, and skills.

 Curriculum Connection

Plan for the Future: Have students envision the school food garden 5 years in the future. Have conversations about what might still be growing in the garden. Are there seeds that can be planted today to ensure success in 5 years? What seeds can be saved from year to year and how do they need to be cared for? What perennial vegetables or fruit bushes can be established? Explore the science behind annual and perennial plants and seed saving. Report on the 5 year garden vision with garden leadership to help inform plans for continued growth and spark ideas.

Story from the Field: Putting Down Roots

The school garden is an important part of the school and community. The garden is integrated into school curriculum for grades primary to 4, with each grade having their own garden bed, with painted signs. Older grades are involved through the “Me to We Club”. During the summer, the gardens are incorporated into the Resource Centre summer day camp programming, and the community Bulk Buying Club uses the produce in bi-weekly food boxes. In the Fall, the produce goes to the school cafeteria, and extra produce goes home with students or is used in a variety of community programs. For our school garden, we use funding from a variety of sources. Having a few funding sources helps ensure the sustainability of the program. In-kind donations from the community each year, including straw for mulch, and well-composted manure, helps to keep costs down.- Community Garden Leader

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