A Guide on How to Start a School Garden

By Natalie Mae Mitchell

Are you thinking about starting a school garden? If so, you’re in for a treat. Not only is gardening a fun and rewarding activity, but it can also teach kids about where their food comes from and the importance of taking care of the environment.

Here’s everything you need to know to get started on your very own school garden.

Benefits of School Gardens

There are many benefits to having a school garden, including providing fresh produce for the school cafeteria, teaching students about where food comes from, and introducing them to the joys of gardening. Gardens can also help to beautify the school grounds and provide a peaceful oasis for students and staff alike. Whatever the reason for starting a school garden, the benefits are sure to be numerous and long-lasting. Here are just a few of the advantages of having a school garden:

#1. School Gardens Can Teach Children About Nutrition and Where Food Comes From

It’s no secret that many kids these days are not getting enough fruits and vegetables in their diets. A school garden can help change that by giving kids a chance to see firsthand how food is grown. They can learn about the nutritional value of different foods and even help to harvest and prepare the produce for the school cafeteria.

#2. Gardening Is a Great Way to Get Kids Outside and Active

With childhood obesity rates on the rise, it’s more important than ever to get kids moving. Gardening is a great way to do just that. It’s also a low-impact activity that’s suitable for kids of all ages and abilities.

#3. School Gardens Can Promote Environmental Awareness

When children learn about gardening and where food comes from, they’re also learning about the importance of taking care of our planet. They can learn about composting, water conservation, and other eco-friendly practices.

#4. School Gardens Can Help to Reduce Stress and Promote Relaxation

There’s something about being in nature that just has a way of calming the mind and soul. For kids who are dealing with stress at home or school, spending time in the garden can be extremely therapeutic. Gardening can also help to improve attention span and focus. When you write an essay, it is important to have a clear focus. A lack of focus can lead to tangents, which can make your essay confusing and difficult to read. If you doubt, ask someone to write my paper for me cheap.

#5. School Gardens Can Be a Great Way to Bring the Community Together

Gardens are often seen as places of peace and serenity. They can be a great way to bring people of all ages and backgrounds together. Kids can learn about cooperation and teamwork while working side by side in the garden. And when the produce is ready to harvest, everyone can enjoy the fruits of their labor.

Whatever the reason for starting a school garden, the benefits are sure to be numerous and long-lasting. 

Easy Steps to Start a School Garden

As we have already understood, gardens can provide many benefits for both people, the environment, and even studies, according to the authors of the expert essaysadvisor blog. But did you know that starting a garden at your school can be easy, fun, and educational for everyone involved?

Here are some easy steps to get started:

Choose a Location

The first step is to pick a spot for your garden. If you have a large outdoor space available, great! If not, don’t worry—you can also create a garden in containers. Just make sure that whichever location you choose gets plenty of sunlight.

Decide What to Grow

Once you have a location picked out, it’s time to start planning what you want to grow. Talk to your students and find out what kinds of fruits, vegetables, or herbs they would like to see in the garden. Once you have a list of possibilities, do some research to find out which plants will do best in your particular climate.

Fast but Healthy Food Some of the fastest-growing plants that can be harvested by early summer are radishes, spinach, and lettuce. All of these vegetables grow quickly and can be ready to harvest in as little as 30 days. So, if you plant them in early May, you can already harvest before the school vacations.    Radishes are particularly good choice for school gardens, as they are easy to grow and don’t require much maintenance. Spinach and lettuce are also good options, as they can be harvested multiple times throughout the growing season. These vegetables are all packed with nutrients and make a great addition to any meal.

Find a Summer Care Team

Think about who will take care of the vegetable garden during the summer vacations. It is important to have someone who is reliable and can be counted on to keep the garden looking its best. And this person should definitely know how to take care of plants. You may want to hire a professional gardening service, or you may know someone who would be willing to take on the task.

Get Your Supplies

Once you know what you’re going to grow, it’s time to start gathering supplies. You’ll need things like soil, fertilizer, seeds or seedlings, gardening tools, and irrigation supplies. If you’re working with a limited budget, try looking for used supplies at yard sales or online classifieds websites.

Prepare the Soil

Before you can start planting, you need to make sure that the soil in your garden is healthy and ready to support plant growth. This involves things like testing the pH level of the soil and adding organic matter like compost.

Plant Your Seeds or Seedlings

Once the soil is prepared, it’s time to start planting! You can either plant seeds or buy seedlings from a local nursery. If you’re working with young students, they’ll probably have more fun planting seeds than seedlings. Just make sure to give them some instructions on how deep to plant the seeds and how far apart they should be spaced.

Water Regularly

One of the most important things you need to do for your garden is water it regularly. Depending on your climate, you may need to water every day or just a few times per week. Be sure to check the soil regularly to see how moist it is—you don’t want to underwater or overwater your plants.

Fertilize as Needed

In addition to watering, you’ll also need to fertilize your plants from time to time. This will help them grow strong and healthy. Just be sure not to overdo it, as too much fertilizer can actually harm your plants.

Harvest Your Crops

After all your hard work, it’s finally time to harvest your crops! depending on what you’re growing, this could be anytime from a few weeks to several months. Be sure to have students help with the harvesting—they’ll love seeing all the fruits (or vegetables) of their labor.

Starting a school garden is a great way to get kids excited about eating healthy and spending time outdoors. Just follow these simple steps and you’ll be well on your way to having a thriving garden in no time.