Bruderheim School

Photos

About our Garden

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

Our school created two raised flowerbeds. One flower bed contained strawberries and the other raspberries. We do not have a greenhouse.

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

We grew strawberries and raspberries. Our strawberries flourished and provided up yummy strawberries all summer. We struggled with the raspberry plants and had 2 failed attempts at transplanting them. We plan to try again next year in the spring as we believe it was just too hot when we tried.

Why did your school decide to add a school garden?

Our school decided to grow a garden after learning about traditional medicines and plants that grow in Alberta. We chose strawberries and raspberries to encourage our students to visit the garden for a yummy snack.

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

All of our grades visited the garden, however, the grade 3 class was responsible for planting and maintaining the garden.

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

The grade three class maintained the garden during the school months. During the summer we had local volunteers' water and weed for us.

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 picked and feasted regularly 😊

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

Over the summer we had volunteers maintain the garden.

What are your future plans for the school garden?

We will be attempting to plant raspberries again or doing another bed of strawberries. We would love to plant pumpkins as well!

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

Creating a school garden was a memorable experience for our class and enjoyed by many. My students loved planting and watching the strawberry cycle as it grew.