Loyola School

About our Garden

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

We have a small area with raised beds and next to it are in the ground plantations

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

There is not really a class taught but students from all the different grades came to help with our plantations and watering.

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

Because of the heat, the harvest was low but we gave the vegetables to our gardeners.

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

There is not really a class taught but students from all the different grades came to help with our plantations and watering.

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

Day to day, it is the Green Club and some volunteers.
In the summer, it was a few teachers and a student who watered 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?

Because of the heat, the harvest was low but we gave the vegetables to our gardeners.

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

Some parents came to help.
We had another grant from Tree Canada to help us add flowers and bushes to the garden to attract pollinators. We also built a hotel for insects.

What are your future plans for the school garden?

We would like to grow it more and reinforce our partnership with another organization that grows vegetables on our land.

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

This is a very fulfilling experience and students loved the hands-on activity.