Connect with the Earth Care about our Natural Word Share our
Common Home with all
Slide 2
Starting a school garden A school garden is an open natural
environment. It provides an opportunity to discover, wonder,
question, exclaim, share wisdom, and most of all, have fun! It
connects students with the Earth and with each other. It gives them
an opportunity to nurture a living thing, to watch it grow and to
share in the harvest. Thinking about creating a garden at your
school? Start at the very beginning, with these essential elements:
Water Light Soil Pots/raised garden beds/containers e.g. sinks,
tubs Seeds/seedlings
Slide 3
Building your garden bed The easiest way to create a school
garden is to build a no-dig garden bed. This is basically a garden
above the natural ground, made up of layers of organic matter that
rot down into a nutrient-rich living soil. Just add more layers!
Make sure that your garden bed site is level and gets at least 5
hours of sun a day. If its not level, fill the gaps with whatever
organic material is at hand. You need a good mixture of two things:
carbon materials in the form of straw, and nitrogen in the form of
manures. And in the same way, water and air must both be provide.
Remember - the layers break down, so it needs to be regularly
topped up with fresh layers. Compost (10cm) Fertiliser (2cm) Straw
(20cm) Lucerne Hay (10cm) Newspaper (0.5cm) Fertiliser (2cm) Border
(50cm)
Slide 4
What to plant and how to decorate Fast growing vegetables, such
as tomatoes, radishes and snow peas, are popular choices for
schools. Students are also intrigued by quirky and colourful
plants. If you choose unusual plants for your school garden (such
as the magic strawberry plant, pictured right) their imagination
will be challenged. Dont forget to decorate to add a sense of fun
to the garden space and encourage students to be creative. Have the
students help build a scarecrow, green house or even a seating
area. Place a chalkboard in the garden to share information with
the school community. Add some statues and a garden gnome or
two!
Slide 5
A place to reflect and give thanks Christ is the brightness of
eternal glory, the splendour of eternal light, the mirror without
spot. St Clare of Assisi Dont forget to create a space in the
garden where students can sit quietly to reflect and give thanks
for Gods Creation. A useful Liturgical celebration is available on
the Catholic Earthcare website.Catholic Earthcare website Preach
the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words. St Francis of
Assisi
Slide 6
Plant a herb/sensory garden Herbs grow quickly, smell amazing,
and can be a tasty addition to almost every meal. Delight the
students senses by planting Basil, Parsley and Rosemary, or even
the more unusual Chocolate and Pineapple Mint. Conversations flow
freely as students are immersed in the sights, sounds and smells of
the garden, and when the produce is harvested and cooked, taste is
added to the list of sensory experiences!
Slide 7
Create, Cook, Celebrate, Document! Suggestions to help engage
students in every step of the gardening process: Use QR codes which
are linked to relevant websites, to label plants Make simple
recipes with the produce Create a Recipe Book or a Calendar to sell
to families Write a column in the School Newsletter Use iPads to
document photos and the garden story Find ways to implement the
garden into all areas of the curriculum Scan the school library to
find fiction and non-fiction books to broaden knowledge and
imagination Create ways to overcome, water, waste, planting and bug
problems Celebrate special seasons and achievements Establish an
Environment Team with student leaders
Slide 8
Tips and tricks Motivate your school community to start a
garden by sharing Catholic Earthcares Connect, Care, Share
videoConnect, Care, Share video Plant herbs or strawberries etc. in
bales of straw (in polystyrene fruit boxes), place them outside
learning spaces and invite students to water the plants by emptying
their water bottles, at the end of the day Plant Aboriginal Bush
Tucker plants, e.g. Lilly Pilly from which jam can be made If
revamping the garden, take Before/After photos and celebrate as
progress is made Contact Local Councils/Businesses, they may donate
e.g. Compost Bin, Worm Farm Compost fruit/veggie scraps, from
lunches and canteens
Slide 9
Place a Stingless Bee Hive in the garden and watch as honey is
produced Plant potatoes which have sprouted in old rubber tyres or
sacks, build up as a tower as the plant grows cut the lip off the
tyres to prevent spiders Squish overripe tomatoes and dry the seeds
to replant Save seeds, e.g. Parsley, Basil, Sunflowers and replant
Plant Sunflowers so that students can measure themselves against
them and watch them grow towards the sun Build a Green House to
nurture seedlings Tips and tricks
Slide 10
A covered Frog Pond surrounded by bromeliads will attract frogs
Plastic bottles with the bottom cut off and filled with water
provide a drip stream to water plants Plant seeds in paper cups and
allow to sprout, before planting out Choose a plant e.g. a rose
with the meaningful name St Patrick! Hold a competition to name the
garden Decorate pots and sell for Mothers/Fathers Day and Fetes
Plant Marigolds/Calendulas as Companion Plants to deter pests and
attract bees Tips and tricks
Slide 11
Where to now? Useful websites Making a Garden
www.kitchengardensinschools.blogspot.com www.organicschools.com.au
www.kitchengardenfoundation.org.au www.gardenorganic.org.uk/schools
Curriculum Resources www.coolaustralia.com.au
www.globalwords.edu.au www.edibleschoolyard.org www.aaee.org.au
www.gould.edu.au Plant/Seed Resources www.diggers.com.au Funding
Opportunities www.environment.nsw.gov.au/sus
tainableschools/www.environment.nsw.gov.au/sus tainableschools/
www.environment.nsw.gov.au/gra
nts/education.htmwww.environment.nsw.gov.au/gra nts/education.htm
Planting Resources www.gardenate.com www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/ Food
Resources www.crunchandsip.com.au www.freshforkids.com.au
www.weekoftastes.com.au
Slide 12
Interested in learning more and connecting with your local
community? Join a Catholic Earthcare Learning Community near you.
Email [email protected] to find out
[email protected]