Ecole Laura Secord School

About our Garden

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

8 raised beds (8x4) and inground space for native plants, medicinal Indigenous plants and fruiting perennials

What grade levels worked in the garden and did you or another teacher link some of your curriculum outcomes to the garden?

Various classroom from all grades use the garden. Some classrooms take more active roles in the the maintenance and hands on while some classrooms use the garden for a variety of activities like science and math activities. It is a hub of academic and hands on learning for all levels in the school.

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

Carrots, peas, beans, lettuce, corn, squashes, tomatoes, cucumbers, arugula, garlic, herbs, raspberries, tobacco, arctic kiwi, sunflowers, zinnias, poppies, various perennial flowers

Why did your school decide to add a school garden?

We saw a big need as a parent council to enrich outdoor and hands on learning opportunities and discuss environmentalism and land learning. We decided to build a school garden also to expand the school's reach to the greater community.

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

Various classroom from all grades use the garden. Some classrooms take more active roles in the the maintenance and hands on while some classrooms use the garden for a variety of activities like science and math activities. It is a hub of academic and hands on learning for all levels in the school.

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

I am the garden coordinator. I oversaw the planning, planting, workshops, summer garden club and general maintenance over the summer

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?

We ran a summer garden club. Harvest was divided between participants, and we did some harvest sharing with elders in the community who had come to offer guidance with Tobacco planting and its cultural significance in the space.

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

Yes, garden club engages families in weekly garden maintenance tasks. It was an excellent community building initiative. We received another grant from the neighborhood residents association to help with the lumber for box building.

What are your future plans for the school garden?

We are currently investing in a grow light system to start seedling for the garden and sell our own seedling to continue funding the program. We are writing a variety of grants to expand to the front of the school in a project for our grade 4-6 students aimed at restoring the Tall Grass Prairie Landscape.

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

Find funding sources! Hire a garden coordinator to run and set up the space and guide classrooms through the garden.