Truro, Nova Scotia
Please describe your garden, is it raised beds, in the ground, do you have a greenhouse?
We have 2 raised beds to start and two blueberry bushes.
What vegetables/fruit do you grow in your garden? What do you have a difficult time growing in your school garden?
Blueberry bushes
Rhubarb
Lettuce
Tomatoes
The above are housed in our outdoor Learning Garden.
With our Light Garden, we have a variety of herbs, plants, chives, marigolds
Why did your school decide to add a school garden?
To enhance our authentic learning experiences. Our green team does a lot in our school - recycling from the cafeteria, recycling batteries and old cell phones, growing our own pollinating flowers, etc. This was something the Green Team wanted to venture into next, so we applied for the grant and were blessed to received the $3000.00 to bring our Learning Garden to fruition.
What classes participate in the garden, what subjects are taught in the garden?
Many students view the garden, but I love that teachers are now bringing the students into the garden for "discovery' in Science; Soil exploration; measurement in Math; art (using the rhubarb leaves for shading).
Who manages the garden day to day? Who manages the garden over the Summer break?
Green team during the school year - day to day and Mrs MacIntosh (Vice Principal) during the summer months.
Many staff volunteers as well.
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 use the rhubarb in our Learning Centre Life Skills class. The students use it to make rhubarb crumble and stewed rhubarb. 😊
Lettuce came early so was enjoyed by custodians over the summer months and teaching staff that visited the school.
Unfortunately the local deer enjoyed the majority of our tomatoes...
Do you have community involvement? Do you have parents and volunteers? Have been able to source other funding to help your garden grow?
We were very fortunate to have Shur Gain support us in our venture as well. They were able to provide us some seeds as well as discounted prices for the raised beds.
Volunteers from our School Advisory Council and PTG were able to access us composting soil.
A local mill company made us benches for our Learning Garden and then donated mulch.
An avid gardener on staff donated hostas, flowers, etc...much to the delight of the local deer population... ;(
What are your future plans for the school garden?
To determine plants that the deer will stay away from and to enhance our light garden. We would also like to have a covered white board anchored in the garden somewhere to allow teachers to demonstrate when teaching in the garden.
Any words of encouragement/tips for a school starting a school garden?
Just go for it! It really seems to grow and develop as you do...I do NOT have a green thumb but saw the desire and interest in my students and went for it. Tamara has been a true asset and people rise to the challenge and help whenever they see a need. This has been a great experience and one that will only continue to grow and develop. 😊
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