Who Should Grow School Gardens? The Surprising Answer for Teachers

Hey there, fellow teacher!

Let’s talk about a question that I’m sure has crossed your mind if you’ve ever thought about starting a school garden: Who should be responsible for it?

You’re probably juggling a million things already, so the idea of adding another to your plate might feel overwhelming. But here’s the thing—school gardens are an incredible way to connect students to nature, teach them where their food comes from, and integrate hands-on learning into your curriculum. So, maybe there's a way to make sure the garden isn't another thing added to your plate but rather a tool that helps you clear what's already on it.

So, who should be growing these gardens? Let’s dive in.

The Usual Suspects

When we think about starting a school garden, the first people that often come to mind are parents, community gardeners, or even outside vendors. And while these groups can be valuable supporters, they shouldn’t be the ones in the driver’s seat. I’ve spent over a decade in this field, building countless school gardens and working alongside teachers, parents, and community partners. I’ve seen what works and, more importantly, what doesn’t.

And I can tell you for a fact that having parents or anyone outside of school tasked to grow the school garden is not only wrong, but it's also inefficient.

The Surprising Answer: Your Students

Here’s my educated take on it: The students should be growing the school garden, not the teachers, not the parents, and definitely not the vendors. Why? Because school gardens exist for experiential learning, and that means students need to get their hands dirty—literally, to be learning. Anything any adult, including you, the teacher, does is a missed learning opportunity for the students. Period! And I would go as far as to say, even building the garden should be done by your students. Hey, your students can even design the garden!

But, of course, the students need guidance, and that’s where you, as their teacher, come in. You already know how to write lesson plans, measure learning outcomes, and engage your students in meaningful ways. It only makes sense that you should be the one teaching them how to grow a garden as part of your existing curriculum.

Why Teachers Should Lead the Way

I get it—taking on a school garden project can sound like just one more thing on your never-ending to-do list. But let me reassure you: when done right, it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. In fact, integrating gardening into your curriculum can enrich your students' learning experience across various subjects like math, science, language, arts, and even social studies.

Now, I’m not suggesting you do this alone or without support. The key to successful school gardens is empowering teachers with the right resources—step-by-step curricula, lesson plans that tie into gardening activities, and the autonomy to make it work within your unique classroom environment.

The Role of Parents and Community Partners

What about parents and community gardeners? They definitely have a role to play, but it’s a supporting one. They can help provide resources, share their expertise, or even volunteer during garden-building days. They could help you with fundraising, and they would support the garden during summer.

But the core of the project—the actual growing and learning—should be led by you and carried out by your students 100% of the time in 100% of cases. Otherwise you don't have an educational hands-on experiential garden.

Why This Approach Works

When students are the ones doing the planting, watering, and harvesting, they’re not just learning how to grow food; they’re learning life skills. They’re engaging in problem-solving, teamwork, and responsibility. Plus, they get to see the fruits of their labor—literally—which is incredibly rewarding.

And let’s not forget the broader impact. When students are successful in the garden, it can spark interest among other teachers and students, creating a ripple effect throughout the school. Before you know it, your school could have a thriving garden program that everyone is excited about.

And this garden program is not relying on parents, vendors, or any other adult for the work to be done. It doesn't even rely on teachers' labor as it will be all done by the students and it can get started with only one class and be very impressive and impactful.

Could elementary students really do all the work?

The answer to this question is a resounding YES! Most adults including teachers highly underestimate the collective power of 20 third graders!

If you use easy Permaculture techniques like Hugelkultur and Sheet Mulching, use the right light-weight hose with proper nozzle, use the right sub-irrigated techniques for seedling starting, use the right guidelines for the design, have the right activity guides and proper lesson plans... in short, if you know what you are doing and have the right supporting material when you lead your students, they can do everything in such an impressive and efficient way that they will surprise you, their parents, your administrators and even you in the most delightful way.

I've seen it done countless times!

Ready to Get Started?

So, if you’ve been on the fence about starting a school garden or you’re unsure how to get it off the ground, remember this: you don’t have to do it all by yourself. Your students are more than capable of doing the work, and with the right support, you can guide them every step of the way.

For more in-depth discussion on this topic and practical tips on getting started, be sure to check out Episode 8 of the School Gardens with Ease podcast. Trust me, you won’t want to miss it!

Happy gardening! 🌱