Donagh Regional School

About our Garden

Please describe your garden, is it raised beds, in the ground, do you have a greenhouse?

Our custodian built flower boxes for us which are placed on the ground in front of the school. We had topsoil delivered and dumped into the flower boxes.

What vegetables/fruit do you grow in your garden? What do you have a difficult time growing in your school garden?

Onions, carrots, parsnips, strawberry plants, corn, pumpkin and squash.

Why did your school decide to add a school garden?

To educate the students about the process of starting a garden and what needs to be done to make it grow.

How to properly plants the seeds.

What fertilizer does to enrich the topsoil.

What classes participate in the garden, what subjects are taught in the garden?

Grade 3 classes. We connect with our soil science unit.

Who manages the garden day to day? Who manages the garden over the Summer break?

Grade 3 teachers - Jamie Knox and Jeana Graham manage the garden day to day. Over the summer break we had students stop by the school to water the gardens. Our custodian John also watered the gardens for us over the summer months.

What do you do with the harvest from your garden? Do you have a harvest celebration? Do you use it in the cafeteria, or culinary classes? Do you donate some of the produce?

Yes, we had a harvest celebration. Each student had an opportunity to try some of the fresh produce from our gardens.

Do you have community involvement? Do you have parents and volunteers? Have been able to source other funding to help your garden grow?

We had some students over the summer break stop into the school to water the gardens.

What are your future plans for the school garden?

We plan to continue to plant our gardens each spring and to connect our gardens to our curriculum and science units - Soils and Plant Growth.

Any words of encouragement/tips for a school starting a school garden?

It is an excellent educational experience for teachers and students.