760 likes | 1.82k Views
STARTING A SCHOOL GARDEN. PRESENTED BY. STARTING A SCHOOL GARDEN. FORM A GARDEN COMMITTEE. Coordinate the garden program Who will be responsible for the Garden Work? Finding funds to support the garden? Scheduling educational activities? Finding and training volunteers?
E N D
STARTING A SCHOOL GARDEN PRESENTED BY
FORM A GARDEN COMMITTEE • Coordinate the garden program • Who will be responsible for the Garden Work? • Finding funds to support the garden? • Scheduling educational activities? • Finding and training volunteers? • Researching and disseminating information? • What resources do you have available to you? • Dedicated people – Teachers, Parents, Students, Maintenance Workers,, Local Residents
DEFINE THE PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES OF THE GARDEN What objectives do you want your garden to achieve? What grade levels will work in the garden? How will you incorporate the lessons of the garden into state and county learning objectives?
Educational Goals What are your educational goals? Will it be for Food production, beautification, or native plant restorations? How will the garden support the State and County educational standards? How can the garden meet the learning objectives of a particular lesson or unit Incorporate activities in the garden for: Science (Life, physical and earth ) Math Social Science Nutrition
LAYOUT STUDENT GARDEN ACTIVITIES Prepare ahead of time for educational exercises and activities. Determined which grades will be doing what and when. Determined how bed space will be allocated. Schedule specific activities at specific times. Assign certain tasks.
DEFINE A YEAR ROUND GARDEN PLAN What happens in the summer to the garden? Who will maintained the garden during the summer when school is out? How do you want the garden to look on the first day of school? What Vegetables will be suitable for the school year? What will be growing when the school convenes in the Fall?
Steps to A Successful Garden Step 1 - Planning Your Garden Step 2 - Selecting Your Site Step 3 - Prepare Your Soil Step 4 - Planting Your Crops or Flowers Step 5 - Taking Care of Your Garden Step 6 - Evaluate
Step 1 - Planning Your Garden • Put your ideas on paper. Make a simple map of your garden plans on graph paper. Be sure to allow space between rows so you can water, fertilize, weed, and harvest! • Taller crops on the North or West side to not shade smaller crops • Group plants by season and maturity date • Early, short-season crops, like lettuce, can give way to late season crops after harvest.
Step 1 - Planning Your Garden Start small Will there be assigned areas for each class? Where will you house the tools? Will a fence be necessary? Will it be Handicapped assessible? In-ground garden or raised beds?
GARDEN TOOLS NEEDED RAKE WHEELBARROW HOE BUCKETS SPADE SPADING/TURNING FORK HAND TROWEL WATERING CAN/HOSES GLOVES RULER PLANT LABELS
Step 1 - Planning Your Garden What Type of Garden? In-ground - convert turfgrass/existing landscape to vegetables Containers - on back step, deck, or balcony or along driveway Edible landscape - pepper, cabbage, Swiss chard, etc. mixed into ornamental beds Combination of the first three? Flower
GARDEN ALTERNATIVES CONTAINER GARDENING USING POTS SALAD BOXES AND TABLES HERBS BOXES AERO GARDENS TERRARIUMS
Container Vegetables Whiskey barrel - 1-2 plant capacity 8 cu. ft. of growing media
Univ. of MD Salad Table: Growing Salad Greens at Waist Height March-November
Raised Beds some advantages… Warm up quickly in spring Drain well; less compaction and erosion Increase available rooting area Can produce greater yields per square foot and some disadvantages… Up-front labor and expense Dry out quickly if weather is hot and dry Don’t work on slopes, unless terraced
Step 2 Choose A Site And Design • Site should: • Be in an area that receives plenty of sunlight for 6 to 7 hours • Has good drainage • Close proximity to water • Close proximity to electricity • Easily assessible to students, volunteers and teachers • Room for the garden, tool storage, compost bin • large enough for the time and energy you will • want to spend in it.
Step 3 - Prepare Your Soil • Have your soil tested to determine nutrient levels and pH, and to be sure it is safe to plant in (low lead level). The pH level should be in the 6.2-6.8 range. • Add organic matter • Compost, Leaves and grass clipping and, manure
GARDEN TOOLS NEEDED RAKE WHEELBARROW HOE BUCKETS SPADE SPADING/TURNING FORK HAND TROWEL WATERING CAN/HOSES GLOVES RULER PLANT LABELS
Step 4 - Planting Your Crops • Seed • Seeds are cheaper • More variety than with transplants • Can start indoors • Wait time • Transplants • Transplants are quicker to grow • Cost effective • Less of a variety • Instant gratification
Vegetables for the School Garden Start Crops that can be harvested in 90 days or less after planting (Check the variety): Leaf lettuce 50 – 60 days Spinach 35 – 50 days Beans (Pole and Bush) 40–50 days Cucumbers 50 to 70 days Carrots 75 to 100 Peas 60 to 90 days Beets 55-80 days Herbs Plant Vegetables that you like to eat.
Step 5 - Taking Care of Your Garden • Fertilize • Water • Weed
Step 6 - Evaluate What was successful? What was not successful? Did you get the support you needed? Students need to evaluate also What changes are needed for next year?
Indoors Activities Make a terrarium Plant bulbs in a pot Make a herbarium Press flowers Make a garden journal Make a worm bin and talk on composting Create a salad table to grow lettuce Plant in raised beds Plant a United States flower bed Examine soil textures Do leaf rubbings Make recycle paper and add flower seeds
Resources FUNDRAISING – BULBS GARDEN CENTERS -- Home Depot, Lowes GROCERY STORES -- Giant, Safeway, Shoppers, Food Lions, etc. WEB SITES CATALOGS -- Oriental Training,
WEBSITES • University of Maryland Extension • Master Gardener Program www.mastergardener.umd.edu • 4-H Youth Program www.maryland4h.org • Grow It Eat It Program www.growit.umd.edu • Home and Garden Information Center www.hgic.umd.edu • Garden Mosaics • www.gardenmosaics.cornell.edu • National Garden Association Kidsgarden • www.kidsgardening.com • School Garden Wizard • www.schoolgardenwizard.com
Thank you This program was brought to you by The Prince George’s County Master Gardener Volunteers University of Maryland Extension