Through our Edible Schoolyards Programs we can help your school create a vibrant, hands-on learning space with countless opportunities for teaching health, fitness, science, life skills and many key learning areas. Students will gain an understanding and appreciation for the origins of food and enjoy mental and physical stimulation beyond the classroom.
An Edible Schoolyards Program focuses on building and maintaining shared vegetable, herb and fruit gardens for students, teachers and families.
Edible Schoolyards can be a great place for students to work outdoors and learn about the holistic approach to gardening. The program is more than growing fruit and vegetables but rather a system that cares for the earth and its people whilst establishing environments that are highly productive and harmonious. Creating an edible schoolyard is a way of learning to live sustainably.
An Edible Schoolyard garden is not only an outdoor learning tool. The produce grown can be used in the school kitchens and canteen to benefit students in more ways than one. Students are presented with the opportunity to not only grow fresh produce but learn to cook with it as well. Our program can easily be included into your school’s curriculum by addressing the key learning areas and linking the curriculum with engaging, relevant and authentic activities. This will help to prepare students to take their place in the wider community. The project design will consider the school’s resources, time allocations and class sizes.
We use the book “Outdoor Classrooms” by Carolyn Nuttall and Janet Millington. For schools who are interested, we recommend you read this book first, it’s full of inspiring ideas, FAQs and curriculum examples. We have copies of this book available to purchase via our website.
The process includes:
Once you have completed and returned the Expression of Interest Form we will contact you to arrange an initial meeting with teachers, parents and P & C committee. At this meeting we will discuss the outlines of our design and costing process.
When you have gathered enough support via our Commitment Poster and are ready to commence the program we will hold classroom or community workshops. Based on the outcome of the workshops we will work together to establish a detailed garden design that will be presented to your school. A quote estimate will then be submitted based on this design and level of support your school requires.
Upon approval of the design and quote, the full project will commence. We will discuss and supply professional development and classroom timetables, printed support materials plus construction and planting schedules.
Veggie Doctor visits will commence as each class becomes involved. Ongoing maintenance systems will be put into place, including harvesting and sharing produce.
Each of these stages plays an important role in the creation process of a sustainable edible schoolyard that will remain viable from now and into the future.
Contact us today on (07) 5448 3769 or email admin@ediblelandscapes.com.au for more information.
Edible Landscapes would like to acknowledge the members of Veggie Village, Permaculture Noosa and all those in the permaculture industry throughout Australia for their knowledge, wisdom and support.
Creating a edible schoolyard?
An Edible Schoolyards Program focuses on building and maintaining shared vegetable, herb and fruit gardens for students, teachers and families.
The process includes: