5 School Garden Myths that Are Holding You Back!

Growing a school garden can seem intimidating, especially with all the myths floating around. But the truth is, it's easier than you think, if you do it right! In this post, we'll tackle some common misconceptions that might be holding you back from growing the teaching garden of your dreams.

Myth #1: "You Need a Large Group of Volunteers"

It’s a common belief that the more people you involve in your school garden, the easier it will be. While community support is important, too many hands can lead to chaos—more opinions, more demands, and more confusion.

The truth? All you need to get started is your class, gardening lesson plans, and growing guides. Your students will do the work, gaining hands-on experience. Community involvement should be minimal—limited to tasks like summer watering or fundraising for seeds and soil. Remember, the garden is a teaching tool, and the focus should be on your students leading the way.

Myth #2: "Growing a School Garden Is Hard Work"

If you’ve seen other teachers struggle with their gardens, it’s easy to assume the process is difficult. But the reality is, there’s a right way and a wrong way to grow a school garden. When you follow the right approach, growing a school garden can be easy and enjoyable.

By avoiding common mistakes, like over-involving volunteers, and using your classroom time for gardening instead of adding it to your personal schedule, you’ll see how simple it can be. Done correctly, it won’t add to your workload—it will enrich your teaching.

Myth #3: "It Takes Too Much Extra Time"

Many teachers think that gardening will require time outside of their regular schedule—weekends, lunch breaks, or after-school clubs. But growing a school garden should never take up your personal time.

The key is to integrate the garden into your classroom activities. Instead of running lunchtime gardening clubs or weekend planting events, teach your core subjects—math, science, language arts, etc.—through gardening during school hours. Your students will learn, and the garden will thrive, all within your class time.

Myth #4: "There’s No Point—Summer Is the Growing Season"

This one couldn’t be further from the truth! While it’s true that plants grow the most during summer, the actual growing season—the time when work is done—is in the spring, when schools are open. Fall is harvest season, also during the school year.

In summer, aside from watering, there’s little to be done (If your plant selection and timing is right). So, don’t let the myth that schools are closed during the growing season stop you from planting a garden!

Myth #5: "You Need Gardening Expertise to Grow a School Garden"

This half-truth discourages many teachers from trying, but it shouldn’t! Growing a school garden is much more about teaching than gardening. You don’t need to be an expert gardener—you just need to know what seeds to plant, when to plant them, and a few basic steps.

The gardening part is easy to learn. The real challenge—and what you’re already great at—is teaching. Your role is to guide your students through the process while they gain hands-on experience.

In Conclusion...

Debunking these myths shows that growing a school garden doesn’t have to be hard, time-consuming, or complicated. By following the right approach, you’ll find that it’s an incredibly rewarding teaching tool that fits seamlessly into your classroom routine.

For more tips and a detailed guide to starting your own classroom garden, listen to episode 18 of the School Gardens with Ease podcast!