Understanding the Key Differences Between School Gardens and Community Gardens

Understanding the differences between school gardens and community gardens is crucial for creating a successful and sustainable garden in your school. This distinction is more important than you might think, and understanding it can save you from a lot of headaches down the road.

The Conceptual Mistake

One of the most common mistakes is using the terms "school gardens" and "community gardens" interchangeably. While no one calls a community garden a school garden, many refer to school gardens as community gardens. This seemingly minor error can lead to significant misunderstandings and mismanagement. Words are powerful; they shape our perceptions and expectations. When you mention "community garden," people envision a space managed by and for the community, which is not the primary purpose of a school garden at all!

Purpose: Education First

The main goal of a school garden is education. It's a learning tool where students can engage in hands-on activities that teach them about food production, science, math, geography, social studies, and health. In contrast, community gardens focus on providing space for community members to grow their own food, with education as a secondary, if at all, goal.

Who's in Charge?

A successful school garden is organized and run by teachers and built, grown and maintained almost entirely by students. Parents and other adults should only offer support, not take over tasks. This hands-on involvement is crucial for students' learning. On the other hand, community gardens are often maintained by community members of all ages, and the work is shared among them.

Timing Matters

School gardens operate on a different timeline than community gardens. All gardening activities must fit within the school year, meaning students can only work on the garden during school hours and terms. This excludes summer, which is a prime growing season for community gardens. Teachers should not have to maintain the garden during their well-deserved summer break, as this can lead to burnout and set unrealistic expectations for other teachers.

Design and Location

School gardens and community gardens are designed and located differently. Community gardens often consist of multiple plots assigned to different families. In contrast, a school garden can be much smaller and more centralized, often starting right in the classroom. You don't need a large budget or extensive buy-in from multiple teachers to get started. A few bags of soil, some seeds, and simple containers are enough to begin.

Utilization: A Teaching Tool

The utilization of school gardens is another key difference. They are educational tools, taught into existence through curriculum-connected lesson plans. This approach integrates gardening into various subjects, providing experiential learning opportunities. Community gardens, however, focus on growing produce for the community and do not inherently incorporate educational activities.

Avoiding Pitfalls

Pitching your garden as a community garden can lead to unrealistic expectations and complicate the project. Your principal and parents might expect a large, community-involved project, which requires significant funding and effort. In contrast, a school garden is manageable and aligns with your primary goal: education. By keeping it simple and focused, you can avoid many common pitfalls that lead to abandoned or poorly maintained school gardens.

In Summary

• Purpose: School gardens prioritize education; community gardens focus on community food production.
• Management: School gardens are maintained by students with teacher oversight; community gardens involve broader community participation.
• Timing: School gardens follow the academic calendar; community gardens peak during summer.
• Design: School gardens can be small and classroom-based; community gardens often have multiple plots.
• Utilization: School gardens are teaching tools; community gardens are for food production.

By clearly distinguishing between these two types of gardens, you can create a successful and sustainable school garden that enhances your students' learning experiences without overburdening yourself or your colleagues.

Stay tuned for more tips and insights on school gardening. Happy gardening!

If you want to listen to me speaking about this topic, I have 2 podcast episodes dedicated to this. Here's a link to the School Gardens with Ease Podcast: