Elmwood High

About our Garden

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

Our school garden is located in the courtyard. The courtyard is square ands has raised garden beds around the perimeter and some garden beds and seating areas in the middle

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

Tomatoes, dill, strawberries, cucumbers, carrots, beans, peas
We did not have any success with kale.

Why did your school decide to add a school garden?

To connect students with nature, healthy nutrition, and sustainable living. It was also an opportunity to invite students into the school in small groups to get away from screen time during the pandemic.

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

Flexible Learning Program Science class
Environmental Group

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

a few staff members and their assigned students (1:1)
custodial staff

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?

The harvest was sent home to some students and staff. However, given COVID our cafeteria and culinary classes were not open or doing any in-class cooking. Some of the produce was donated to a local community group and our newcomers class.

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

No, unfortunately given strict COVID protocol and screening processes we were not able to connect with community. Additional funding was not accessed this year.

What are your future plans for the school garden?

The school garden will transition to sharing a place for native species and a pollinator garden as well as a medicine wheel garden and Three Sisters garden to integrate Indigenous perspectives as we focus on Truth and Reconciliation.

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

Use the school garden as a teaching opportunity. It has so many great connections to the curriculum and engages students to create a relationship with their food and where it comes from!