School GardensGrowing food on school property is a popular project in British Columbia. Teachers and students enjoy growing and eating fresh food together from the garden; a variety of foods can be grown, though specific crops will depend on the growing conditions of your region. Check out our Crop Planning Guide for more details.
School Garden Crop Planning ResourcesLooking for support to help you plan your school garden? Farm to School BC has developed a series of crop planning resources specifically for school gardens that shifts traditional planting times to align with the school year, focusing on a spring and fall harvest while minimizing work in July and August.
Getting StartedStart small. Gain support from your school’s administration, PAC, and school district maintenance. The SD maintenance plays a huge role in how and where the garden is built, so work with your school’s administration to get them on board. Purpose of the Garden Production Garden: We grow a lot of food in this garden to preserve and cook as a class, and learn food skills in a hands-on way.
Outdoor Classroom: The garden is an alternative to the indoor classroom, where we grow some food to snack on, and learn many ideas in a hands-on way.
Infrastructure
Garden Committee: We recommend putting together a Garden Committee at your school to involve other teachers, administration, school district maintenance, PAC, neighbouring community members, and community groups who work with school gardens. School gardens are about building community and long-term buy-in to be successful.
Lesson Plans
ResourcesFarm to School BC Resources
Partner Resources
Seed Saving
Planting for Pollinators |