Is a "green schoolyard" the same thing as a school garden?
A green schoolyard usually refers to a play yard that has green elements such as trees and grass. A school garden is designed to be both a fun, inviting place for children to spend time outdoors and an outdoor teaching space/classroom. There are school gardens in cities all over the world.
What can children learn in a school garden?
A school garden can offer children hands-on opportunities to learn about plants and animals (biology), the relationship between the seasons and weather, the sun and the earth (geology/environment), about the interrelationships between living things in the garden (ecology), about how to grow food and flowers and care for a garden (gardening/horticulture) and about how to turn things grown in the garden into food (cooking/nutrition). In addition, the school garden is an outdoor learning space for teaching academic subjects.
What would I find in a school garden?
School gardens come in many sizes and forms, but certain features are common: a gathering place where an entire class can work together; seating areas for individuals and small groups; flower and vegetable gardens; composting bins; and decorative features such as murals or mosaics. You might also find a sundial, a weather van, a greenhouse, a labyrinth, birdhouses and bird feeders, a pond, or a chicken coop/rabbit hutch.
How do green school garden help the environment?
School gardens are also "green" in the sense of being created and maintained in a manner that is kind to the environtment: harmful chemicals are not used, compostable waste from the schoolyard and the school is converted into safe, natural fertilizer, and native plants that require little additional water are featured. Garden projects often involve reusing discarded materials. The removal of asphalt allows natural rainfall to soak into the soil and nurture plants and animals instead of becoming stormwater run-off. And most importantly, the city-dwelling children who spend time in a school garde learn about nature and taking care of the environment.
Who maintains the school garden?
The children, teachers, parents and community volunteers all have roles in maintaining the school garden. In addition, most schools with gardens employ a garden coordinator to work directly with students in the garden.
How are school garden projects in the public schools in San Francisco funded?
School gardens are funded in a variety of ways including PTA funds, private donations, grants and even some money from the District and State. Most schools need a variety of funding and rely on the hardwork of parents, teachers and garden coordinators to get it.
Do other public schools in San Francisco have some kind of school garden space?
Yes, there are approximately 35 school gardens in San Francisco's public schools.
How would a school garden benefit my child's school and its surrounding neighborhood?
School gardens can turn desolate, paved yards into places of beauty. They create spaces that are fun and interesting and add beauty to the neighborhood for the benefit of the whole community. They can also serve to bring community together through garden work days.
What's the deal with this Prop A business I keep hearing about?
Recently, the voters of San Francisco passed Prop A to pay for construction and upgrades that will make our schools ADA (Americans with Disabilities) compliant. Included in this Prop was $100,000 per school for greening schoolyards. Please visit our map to find out which schools are included.
I want to start a garden at my child's school. Where do I begin?
Excellent! Please contact Arden Bucklin. You may also want to visit our map to familiarize yourself with other school gardens nearby.
