Make the case

Why garden at school

• View the Filmpond video Our kitchen rules at Bob’s Farm (05:07min) to learn about the benefits of school kitchen gardens.
• Read the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation's philosophy of Pleasurable food education and proof it works to understand benefits of kitchen gardens.

Why grow fresh produce

• View the ABC Splash video on Growing your own food (3:15min).
• Find other benefits of growing your own food by Local Harvest. Jot these down on a mind map.
• Follow the links on growing your own food by Sustainability Victoria to find out how kitchen gardens save money and reduce shopping miles, packaging and food waste.

Health and wellbeing

• Read about the health benefits of eating seasonal fresh produce by the Australian Government.
• School gardens can be organic or permaculture systems. Find out about organic nutrition by Australian Organic Schools.
• Discover how gardening is good for wellbeing of the mind, body and spirit by Sustainable Gardening Australia.
• Gardening provides physical activity and produces fresh food for healthy eating. What do you currently do to be physically active and healthy?

What's involved

• Read the steps on Getting started with growing food by Sustainability Victoria.
• View the ABC Splash video Vegetable gardens (5:18min) for an overview of growing vegetables.
• Browse the Australian Organic Schools School gardens are cool pages to understand what's involved in organic gardening at school.
• Refer to the guides on How to start a kitchen garden by Healthy Kids Association.

Investigate suitable locations

• Find out what to consider when planning a kitchen garden by Australiain Organic Schools.
• Walk around your school to determine where a garden might be established. Check the site at various times of the day to see how much sunlight or shade it gets. Is there space for equipment and access to water nearby?
• Use a school site map or Google Map to record features and uses of the school grounds. Map potentially suitable locations for a garden. Public schools can access site maps from the AMS Maps for NSW public schools tool.
• Consider designs and types of garden beds that might be suitable for your site.

Gauge interest

• Interview school staff and students from other classes to find out if they are interested in growing fresh food at school, and if they would be willing to help.
• Include an item in your school newsletter to ask if any parents or carers have experience or knowledge in growing fresh food and might be willing to help.

Investigate funding options

• Identify grants and funding sources such as Environmental Trust grants.
• Public schools can also access Schools Infrastructure sustainable school grants.

What to plant and when

• Find out what needs to be considered in selecting suitable plants by Australian Organic Schools.
• Refer to the Gardenate planting guide for plant lists per season.
• Refer to the ABC Vegie guide for comprehensive information on vegetable gardening.
• View the Filmpond video, Orara's (Yuraara) bush tucker forest (5:46min), explaining Australian bush foods of northern NSW.

Garden safety

• Consider safety strategies and policies in regards to allergies, potting mix and use of tools and equipment.
• Refer to the department's procedures for Minimising the risk of exposure to allergens.
• Refer to the information in the ABC's safety in the garden.

Working together

• Read about community gardening by Foodwise. It is becoming more popular and can provide great insights for creating a garden at your school. What grows well in your local community garden?
• Read how Australian scientists at CSIRO are working to deliver healthier, safer and more sustainable food.

Sustainable development

• Find out about the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Read overviews of goal 3 – good health and wellbeing, goal 11 – sustainable cities and communities and goal 15 – life on land. How do kitchen gardens contribute to the SDGs?