Alabama Extension Agent gives tips on creating a school garden

AUBURN UNIVERSITY, Alabama. – Starting a school garden is not as unattainable as some may think. Knowing how to secure funding, plant and maintain the garden is a good thing, but don’t be afraid of it.

“I have been working in community and school gardens for more than 10 years,” said Carmen Flammini, a regional representative for the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. “One thing I can tell you is that to make a school garden successful, you have to build a community.”

Flammini, who serves Baldwin, Butler, Conecuh and Escambia districts, said to be successful, you need to create a team of teachers, parents and administrators to lead the school garden and help with support and organization. Having just one teacher or volunteer manage a school garden is doomed to failure.

Cultivate community

Flammini said it was imperative to gain community support for the garden before considering its location.

“There are many things to consider with gardens, but the most important thing is to plan within the time frame of the school year,” she said. “I usually try to have the garden ready by September, but planning begins before August.”

Flammini said once students return to school, it’s time to start thinking about planting. May and December are the months to plan the garden. August and March are the best times to plant the garden, depending on the need for fruits and vegetables. She also recommends factoring in the time when students are out of school for vacations and making sure volunteers are available to water and maintain the garden.

Secure financing

When starting a school garden, securing funding is key to success.

“Raising funding can be difficult, but it’s important to find partners to help you achieve your goals,” Flammini said. “There are so many schools that don’t have money to start a school garden. But if you do a little digging, you can find funding. If not, call Extension and ask for help.”

Bury

When it’s time to put a shovel in the ground, think about space and a water source. Flammini said in a school setting, it’s important to bring someone onto the school grounds to help choose the best spot for the garden. This would be a good opportunity to bring in your local Extension agent to help choose the location for the garden.

“Decide if you need raised beds or if you can plant in the ground,” Flammini said. “We can also help you organize your planting season, which is hugely important.”

Another important point to consider is access to water. Having access to a water source – in addition to rainwater – is really important.

“Water, water, water,” she said. “One thing you have to have is a hose. The other thing is having the right irrigation system, they are two different things.”

When choosing materials for a raised bed, Flammini always recommends wood. Her preferred building material for raised beds is cedar because it is rot-resistant. She also recommends designing gardens in a way that allows students with different access needs to participate.

“Raised beds are a good choice for students in wheelchairs because all students can work on the same level and participate in the same activities,” Flammini said. “Don’t forget to include space for wheelchairs so they can turn and maneuver easily.”

Teaching materials

Flammini said you can teach many different things in a school garden. By incorporating vegetables, fruits, herbs, grasses and nectar plants, students can learn about and explore a wide variety of garden plants. Flammini suggests incorporating a sensory area into the garden where students can touch and smell plants without fear of hurting themselves.

“Many teachers look at lesson plans and say, ‘Where can I get this?’ But I want them to step back, look at the garden and say, ‘What can I teach from this?'” Flammini said.

More information

Flammini shares more information about community and school gardens in a recent episode of the Alabama Extension podcast, “From the Ground Up.” You can listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Spotify, or on the Alabama Extension website at www.aces.edu.

If you need help establishing a school garden in your community, contact Flammini at [email protected] or your school garden’s regional representative at www.aces.edu/directory.