This month’s theme of school garden expansion and repair hopes to support school gardens who are ready for a next step in expanding their program or need to put some energy into repairing and rejuvenating a previous program. Consider involving your students in the process and exploring alternatives to raised beds.
Here are some ideas and resources to help you navigate school garden design, expansion and repair.
Engaging Students in School Garden Design
Here is an article and short video about Involving students in the planning and design process to foster critical thinking skills, cultivate a sense of ownership, and reinforce their ideas.
- Link: https://farmtoschool.ces.ncsu.edu/news/engaging-students-in-school-garden-design/
- School Garden Design Activity
Move Beyond or Expand Upon Raised Beds by Growing a Layered Garden called a Food Forest
- National Farm to School: https://www.farmtoschool.org/news-and-articles/happy-world-environment-day-a-deep-dive-into-school-food-forests
- Kids Gardening: https://kidsgardening.org/resources/digging-deeper-food-forest/
Extend Growing Options Across a Greater Area of a Campus with Container Gardening
- Kids Gardening: https://kidsgardening.org/resources/designing-a-school-garden-consider-container-gardening/
Step-by-Step Guide to School or Community Garden Clean-up
- Clemson Cooperative Extension: https://hgic.clemson.edu/a-step-by-step-guide-to-school-or-community-garden-clean-up/
