GOT SCHOOL GARDENS?

GOT SCHOOL GARDENS? (September 5, 2013)
by Susan Schieferle, Master Gardener 

Yes, Tulare and Kings Counties have many!  Visalia elementary schools include Hurley, Shannon Ranch, Royal Oaks, Highland, Crestwood, and Valley Life Charter (plus more).  There are also gardens at Kings River-Hardwick and Pioneer (Hanford), Rocky Hill (Exeter), Roosevelt (Woodlake), Pleasant and St. Aloysius (Tulare), Kings River Union (Kingsburg), Meadow Lane (Lemoore), Bartlett (Porterville), plus many others!

The California State Garden Network (CSGN) has linked state curriculum standards to school gardens.  Their research indicates that school gardens build bridges among students, teachers, parents, community leaders, organizations, and businesses.  CSGN studies show significant benefits for children at schools with gardens including more math and science gains, increased consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, greater concern for care of living things, improved student attitudes towards school, and improved agricultural literacy among students and schools.

School gardens can be as simple as a rolling container planted with carrots and radishes by each classroom; veggies incorporated into flower beds; or large container pots or barrels with plantings.  Gardens can be planted directly into the ground; however the most popular trend is raised beds, built from lumber or blocks of cement.

So how does a school garden begin?

First, a school needs the desire to have a school garden and then it develops a basic plan, goals, and a support team (teachers, parents, volunteers).

Second, funding by writing grants and/or fundraising to build and sustain the garden.  The Tulare County Farm Bureau (TCFB) is foremost in offering annual grants to schools building gardens AND schools with existing gardens, plus plant giveaways twice yearly for grant gardens!  The Kiwanis Ag Division 18 covering Kings, Tulare and Fresno Counties also offers funding for school gardens.  Local parent-teacher organizations may also help.

Third, each school needs the know-how to operate a successful garden.  The Master Gardeners of Tulare-Kings Counties have mentors to help with gardening instruction for adults along with advice and tips for success.

Once a school is ready to construct the garden, there is additional help. The COS Ag Dept. has teamed up with TCFB to develop the Beyond the Farm trailer for teachers, students and their garden projects.  The trailer has sets of garden tools such as rakes, shovels, trowels, and a rototiller to get any school or community garden started or for maintaining an existing garden.  The trailer is available upon request!  Boy Scouts of America and other community organizations also like to pitch in and help with school gardens. 

Shannon Ranch Elementary, now in its second year of operation, has a school garden which is “fanned” around an outside shade structure.  Each raised bed has pumpkin plants seeded by each class in the school!  Sunflowers add color and attract pollinators for the pumpkin flowers.  The initial funding came from an annual grant from the TCFB and the school PTA.  An Eagle Scout built the garden along with help from student leaders and Helping Hands of Visalia. 

The garden at Hurley Elementary is about 1/8 acre (5000 square feet) and is maintained by an after school garden club.  Four Creeks Church which meets at Hurley on Sundays, has teamed up with the school and works four raised beds to grow produce to donate to the community. 

Royal Oaks Elementary began its garden with wheeled planters several years ago until it had the money to build a small six bed garden with a pumpkin patch.  Frances J. White (Woodlake) has a charming, small garden which serves students from kindergarten to second grade.

School and Youth Gardens are here to stay!  And the Master Gardeners of Tulare-Kings Counties can help.  We are offering a workshop on Saturday, October 12, 2013 at St. Aloysius School in Tulare, “Creating and Sustaining Your School/Youth/Community Garden.”  To find out more information, visit the website http://cetulare.ucanr.edu ; click on Master Gardeners then look for School Gardens Workshop.  It has all the information you need to register.

Happy School Gardening!