29: How to Create a Thriving Educational School Garden

School Gardens with Ease

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Thriving School Gardens don't happen by accident!
In this episode of School Gardens with Ease, I’m guiding you through the steps to create an impactful, sustainable, and educational garden at your school. Whether you’re a teacher or a supportive parent, this episode is packed with actionable advice to help you avoid common pitfalls and set your garden up for success.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• The Power of School Gardens: Discover how gardens enhance student learning, life skills, and environmental stewardship.
• Common Mistakes to Avoid: Learn why parent-led gardens, extracurricular projects, and overly complex setups often fail.
• The 2-Phase Solution: Start with a classroom garden and expand to an outdoor garden with confidence and ease.
• The Role of Lesson Plans: Understand why cohesive lesson plans are the key to connecting gardening tasks with curriculum goals and staying on track.

Episode Highlights

1. What Doesn’t Work:
   • Parent-led gardens often lack educational alignment and become unsustainable.
   • Extracurricular gardens demand too much personal time and lose focus.
   • High-maintenance or overly complicated setups set everyone up for burnout.
2. What Works:
   • Gardens should be student-grown, teacher-led, and managed during class time to maximize educational impact.
   • Starting with a classroom garden builds confidence and avoids summer maintenance challenges.
   • Outdoor gardens thrive when designed with low-maintenance techniques like Hugelkultur, sheet mulching, and biodiversity.
3. Steps to Success:
   • Phase 1: Classroom Garden
     • Use simple supplies like seeds, soil, and a sunny window.
     • Write cohesive lesson plans that align with your curriculum and schedule.
     • Plan ahead for what to do with seedlings at the end of the year.
   • Phase 2: Outdoor Garden
     • Incorporate smart design techniques to reduce maintenance.
     • Engage students in every step, from planning to planting.
4. The Oasis Programs:
   • Oasis Classroom: Perfect for growing impactful classroom gardens.
   • Oasis School: Supports both classroom and outdoor gardens with regenerative designs.
   • Caja Oasis: Ideal for limited space, using sub-irrigated planters.
   • Each program includes ready-made lesson plans, student resources, and personalized coaching.

Resources Mentioned

• Free Guides:

My Recommended Seeds List for Schools:
https://www.kidsgrowingcity.ca/get-seed-list-gift-for-teachers
Seed Starting in Schools Guide:
https://www.kidsgrowingcity.ca/offers/pZ2cNrYj/checkout

• Hugelkultur Guide:

https://www.kidsgrowingcity.ca/offers/8WLA6Gpd/checkout

• Annual School Gardens with Ease 70-minute Webinar:

https://www.kidsgrowingcity.ca/main-registration-page-school-gardens-with-ease

• Oasis Programs Suite:

https://www.kidsgrowingcity.ca/links-oasis-programs

Creating a thriving school garden doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With the right approach, you can turn your garden into a hands-on teaching tool that inspires students and transforms your classroom.