School Gardens

Why Build a Garden? 

Research has shown that school gardens:

1. Significantly increase science achievement scores

2. Improve social skills and behaviors

3. Improve environmental attitudes, especially in younger children

4. Instill appreciation and respect for nature that lasts into adulthood

5. Improve life skills, including working with groups and self-understanding

6. Increase interest in eating fruits and vegetables and improve attitude towards fruits and vegetables

7. Improve nutrition knowledge and vegetable preferences

8. Increase fruit and vegetable consumption in adolescents

9. Contribute to communication of knowledge and emotions, while developing skills that will help them be more successful in school.

10. Have a positive impact on student achievement and behavior.

(Source: Kids Gardening)

Resources for Creating and Maintaining a School Garden

• The Master Gardener Association of San Diego School Program

• KidsGardening Garden Resources

• The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation

• American Heart Association Teaching Gardens

• Whole Kids Foundation Garden Resource Center

Garden Related Curricula and Activities

• Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center (Local garden in National City that hosts classrooms and provides teacher training)

• KidsGardening

• Oklahoma Ag in the Classroom

• Life Lab

• Big Ideas: Linking Food, Culture, Health and the Environment (Grades K-12)

• Green Education Foundation Green Thumb Challenge

• Green Your School Challenge

Garden Grants and Funding

• • San Diego Master Gardeners' Grant Resource Center 

• Garden ABC's List of Garden Grants

• Education Outside Garden Grants Resource List

  • Melinda Gray Ardia Environmental Foundation (Next due date: August 12. 2016)

  • The Donald Samull Classroom Herb Garden Grant (Next due date: October 1, 2016)

• KidsGardening Grant Programs (Next due date: TBA)

• Whole Kids Foundation School Gardens Grant Program (Next due date: TBA)

  • San Diego County Farm Bureau Ag in the Classroom (Next due date: TBA)