Jack Mackenzie School

About our Garden

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

We built 3 raised garden plots

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

We were able to grow zinneas, sunflowers, corn, chives, strawberries, cucumber, lettuce.


Cucumber, lettuce, and young plants were hard to grow as there a rabbit that comes by and eats it.

Why did your school decide to add a school garden?

We don't have a school garden of any kind, only a garden tower, and no dedicated outdoor classroom so I thought a garden would be a nice addition.

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

Right now our grade 1 and 1/2 classes participate in the garden. Subjects such as science, math, and literacy have been connected.

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

There is only one staff member that maintains the garden. Sometimes other staff come by upon request to help weed the garden.

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 had a corn celebration as we were able to harvest 16 cobs so we cooked and ate them.

What are your future plans for the school garden?

Growing more pollinating plants, and vegetables that will last into September for harvesting when school begins each year.

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

Make sure you have many helpers for the dirt. It's a long heavy job to move dirt into a big plot, we had three plots so it was alot. Ask your staff who will actually use the garden so you aren't the only one tending to it. Maybe one plot is enough for a school. Ask your local gravel/soil comply for a donation. We got our soil donated. Ask around before springs come so you have all your bases covered and any donations in place.