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Food Garden
Food Garden
Many TDSB schools have food gardens, which provide places for students to learn how to grow, harvest, prepare food, and also teach them about food security and nutrition. Many of these gardens are made possible thanks to partnerships with a number of community groups and TDSB partners. Food gardens must be grown in a raised bed with fresh soil.
Sensory Garden
Sensory Garden
A sensory garden is a garden environment that is designed with the purpose of stimulating the senses. This stimulation occurs courtesy of plants and the use of materials that engage one's senses of sight, smell, touch, taste, and sound. The benefits include sensory development, opportunities for exploration and discovery, promoting communication and language development, and supporting cognitive development.
Pollinator Garden
Pollinator Garden
Pollinator gardens are designed to attract butterflies, moths, flies, beetles, bats and hummingbirds. Growing pollinator-friendly plants supplies food in the form of pollen and nectar. This helps keep these vital insects and animals nearby to pollinate our food crops for continued fruit and vegetable production. These gardens provide real life examples of the interdependent nature of our food ecosystem and the valuable services that pollinators provide to human society.
Get Inspired!
Get Inspired!
Recommended Plants
Recommended Plants
Perennial Plants
Perennial plants remain in the ground year after year. Perennials require some maintenance every year, such as cutting back in the early spring to allow for new growth. It may be beneficial to plant one stock tank with perennials as a pilot project to see what overwinters and what is successful.
Annual Plants
Perennial plants are a good place to start as a small pilot project. However, in the long run it may be more affordable to plant annuals and/or herbs. This could be a fun exercise for the students as they can start them from seed indoors in the early spring. They can then be planted in late spring once the risk for frost has passed. Combining a variety of annual flowers within the stock tanks will provide a burst of long term colour.
For more information:
Plants to Avoid: Invasive Species
Plants to Avoid: Invasive Species
Invasive plants are harmful non-native plants whose introduction or spread threatens the environment, the economy, or society.
Why are invasive plants a concern?
Spread rapidly and are very competitive
Crowd out existing native plants
Hybridize with native species, changing their genetic make-up
Alter ecosystems
Reduce nesting and foraging opportunities for animals
TDSB schools can play an important role in the fight to protect the biodiversity in Toronto’s ravines and natural areas by monitoring and removing invasive species on the school ground and planting only native and non-invasive species sourced from reputable nurseries.
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Location and Placement
Location and Placement
Before you decide the placement of a stock tank or metal raised bed container garden, consult with your administration and school community to determine an optimal location. Consider the hours of sun required to grow the plants you want in your garden. Water access and proximity to storage are also important factors to consider when deciding where to locate your garden.
Schools must request a Viability Review meeting before breaking new ground or placing a permanent garden feature on their school ground.
For more information:
Raised Garden Design Templates
Raised Garden Design Templates
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