Langenburg, Saskatchewan
Please describe your garden, is it raised beds, in the ground, do you have a greenhouse?
Our garden space has been marked off and will eventually take up a 1 acre space. To start, we are sectioning of a smaller piece to till and plant in the spring. In the meantime, my class has created planter boxes and flower beds to learn about the growing process. These were used last spring/ school year.
What vegetables/fruit do you grow in your garden? What do you have a difficult time growing in your school garden?
Our garden will grow fruits and vegetables in the spring. We also plan on growing sunflowers and pumpkins. Our flower boxes were used this past growing season for tomatoes, basil and peppers. In our flower beds we also grew rhubarb.
Why did your school decide to add a school garden?
Our school decided to partner up with a community innovative to create a garden space because we believe that learning about Agriculture, and being stewards to the land is important. The garden space will be in the field parallel to our playground space.
What classes participate in the garden, what subjects are taught in the garden?
The past growing season saw the grade 7 PAA class help design and plant garden boxes and beds. The garden space this upcoming year will see Pre-K to grade 12 participate. Students will learn through science, health and social studies.
Who manages the garden day to day? Who manages the garden over the Summer break?
The garden boxes and garden beds are maintained by me and other staff members throughout the summer. However, the new garden space will be maintained by community volunteers and potentially students.
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 plan is to have each grade plant a 'recipe' garden. They will harvest their food and then cook a recipe using those ingredients.
Do you have community involvement? Do you have parents and volunteers? Have been able to source other funding to help your garden grow?
Presently, my role in the garden is small as I am the liaison for the school. The other community members involved have donated farmland, time and equipment to see the plan come to fruition. We are still determining what funding will be required. The plan is to eventually have community members grow plots along side students' recipe gardens. They would be responsible for maintaining their own spaces.
What are your future plans for the school garden?
We have big dreams of turning our 1 acre area into an Agriculture learning space that goes beyond planting a community garden. There is potential to design learning spaces that include animals, as well as spaces for students to sit and work along side their environment.
Any words of encouragement/tips for a school starting a school garden?
Dream big!
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