Get a Resounding Yes: How to Pitch Your School Garden Idea!

Are you passionate about bringing a school garden to your community but unsure how to make your case? Whether you're a teacher, parent, or school administrator, pitching a school garden project can be a daunting task. It's not just about presenting a good idea. It's about showing how that idea aligns with educational goals, engages students, and benefits the entire school community.

To help you navigate this process and create a compelling proposal, I’ve put together a detailed guide titled How to Pitch Your School Garden Project. This guide is designed to assist you in planning and presenting your garden project effectively.

In this blog post, I’ll provide an overview of what you’ll find in the guide and how each section is tailored to help you craft a successful pitch. If you're ready to make your school garden dream a reality, keep reading—and be sure to download the full guide for all the detailed steps and strategies!

If you are a Parent...

A school garden is an teaching and learning tool that should enrich what your kids are learning. It's supposed to help your child's teachers and not become yet another project on top of everything else they are mandated to do. But at the same time, a teaching tool should be used by teachers and it's very improper, ineffective and also not sustainable if the parents run the project.

If you are excited to pitch this idea to your school community, make sure you pitch it together with a teacher who is already excited and on the same page as you are. In this guide, I share lots of ideas on how to make a school garden (or a classroom garden for that matter) a helpful tool for the teachers. Send a teacher of two my way and ask them to download the guide. Even just one teacher is enough to get this project started but your pitch will not make sense if you don't have one beside you in the presentation.  

Classroom or Outdoors School Garden?

The first step in your pitch has to do with the decision whether to start with a classroom garden or an outdoor school garden. You need to make this decision first and then draft your pitch accordingly. Both options offer valuable educational opportunities, but they come with different sets of challenges and benefits.

Classroom gardens are generally more cost-effective and easier to manage. On the other hand, outdoor gardens provide a more immersive experience, connecting students directly with nature. They offer larger growing spaces and the opportunity to grow a wider variety of plants.

But remember that classroom gardens can be very impressive, offer not only varieties of veggies that will be enjoyed by your students during class but can also grow an ample amount of food seedlings that can be connected to an entrepreneurial program, to sell to the community, or donate to community gardens. And classroom gardens are very convenient as they are closed at the end of the school year. So, no need for summer maintenance!

There's more details on the GUIDE that will help you decide which one is the one for your school community.

Who Will Be Involved?

A successful garden project relies on clear roles and responsibilities. In the guide, you’ll find detailed advice on how to outline who will be involved in the project. In shorts, students should handle the physical work of planting, maintaining, and harvesting, while teachers will teach and oversee the project. The community’s role is to provide support, not direct involvement.

This section helps you articulate a clear plan for involvement, which is crucial for demonstrating that your project is manageable and well-organized. It shows decision-makers that you have a solid plan for engaging all stakeholders effectively.

What Will Be Grown and Taught?

Your pitch should also address what will be grown in the garden and how it will integrate with the curriculum. The guide provides guidance on selecting suitable crops (trust me that not all are!) and creating lesson plans that complement the garden activities and connect with math, science, language, arts, etc. This ensures that your garden serves as an educational tool, enhancing students’ learning experiences.

Explaining what will be grown and taught in your pitch will illustrate the educational value of the garden, making it clear that the project is more than just a green space—it’s an integral part of students’ academic growth.

Timing Your Garden Project

Timing is crucial for the success of any garden but especially a school garden and you need to talk about it in your pitch so people know you are timing this project perfectly and that you have thought about everything. The project should start at the end of winter, aligning with the school year and the growth cycles of the plants. Here’s a breakdown of the recommended timeline:

• End of Winter - Early Spring: Begin by designing and building the garden if you’re going for an outdoor option. Simultaneously, start planting short-maturing crops like arugula, spinach, and leaf lettuce. These fast-growing plants will allow students to see results quickly and harvest their crops before the school year ends.

• Spring: Alongside the short-maturing crops, start seedlings of long-maturing crops indoors. If you have an outdoor garden, transplant these seedlings outdoors as they grow. If you’re sticking with a classroom garden, you can sell, donate, or take the seedlings home at the end of the school year.

• End of School Year (June): Harvest the short-maturing crops, marking the culmination of the students’ efforts. For classroom gardens, consider holding a market to sell or donate the remaining seedlings.

• Summer Break: During the summer, long-maturing crops will continue to grow with minimal maintenance, such as occasional watering (for outdoor gardens of course). Design the garden to conserve water and reduce the need for summer care.

• Fall (Next School Year): For outdoor gardens, the long-maturing crops will be ready for harvest when the new school year begins, providing a seamless transition and exciting introduction for incoming students.

Selecting the Right Location for an Outdoor Garden

If you choose to go for an outdoor garden, and you don't have to, location is key to its success. Here are some criteria to consider:

1. Sunlight: Ensure the garden receives at least 6 to 8 hours of sunlight daily.
2. Access to Water: Position the garden close to a water source for easy maintenance.
3. Visibility: Choose a visible spot to engage the school community and prevent neglect or vandalism. Do not fence the garden behind a lock! Much more on this in the guide!

Permaculture Design Ideas for Outdoors

One of the standout features of the guide is its focus on Permaculture design ideas. These techniques, such as Hugelkultur and sheet mulching, not only make it possible for the students to build their garden themselves,  they enhance sustainability and on top of that also help reduce costs significantly. By incorporating these ideas, you can minimize the need for expensive materials and lower maintenance costs.

Including these cost-effective and environmentally friendly design strategies in your pitch will showcase your commitment to sustainability and responsible budgeting, making your proposal more appealing.

Budget Considerations

Understanding the costs involved is essential to planning your garden project. And this is what everyone wants to hear about in your presentation. Without paying attention to all other aspects of planning that are described in the guide in detail, you cannot  have a good cost estimate. Generally speaking, classroom gardens are more cost-effective, requiring basic supplies like seeds, potting soil, and party cups. Outdoor gardens will require additional investments in soil, mulch, and possibly a watering system. If you are going to start outside, the garden design you choose make a huge difference on how much the project will cost.  

It’s also SUPER important to budget for lesson plans. These plans transform the garden into an educational tool, allowing students to learn about science, math, and other subjects through hands-on gardening activities.

Conclusion

A well-planned school garden project can have a lasting impact on students, teachers, and the entire school community. By carefully considering the type of garden, timing, location, design, and budget, you can create a sustainable and impactful garden that enriches the educational experience and fosters a love of nature and healthy eating for years to come.

As you move forward with your proposal, remember that this project is more than just a garden—it’s an opportunity to create a lasting legacy of learning and sustainability. Good luck with your school garden project, and feel free to reach out if you need any support!

Love,
Leila

Email me at [email protected]
Here's the guide again: https://www.kidsgrowingcity.ca/how-to-pitch-your-school-garden-project