DON'T involve the community this way!

When it comes to starting a school garden, most people, including teachers, think they need to gather a community committee right from the start. If you’ve been feeling like you have to round up parents, community members, and volunteers just to get your school garden project off the ground, I’m here to tell you: you don’t.

Actually, starting with a committee might be the biggest obstacle in your way.

Let me explain.

Common Misconception about School Gardens vs. Community Gardens

The first reason many people think they need a group of adults to start a school garden is because they confuse school gardens with community gardens. If you've listened to my podcast before, or you've read my previous blogs, you might have heard me talk about the differences between the two. While a community garden often starts with a group of volunteers, a school garden is an educational tool, it’s meant for teaching, first and foremost.

And who better to start and lead a school garden than you, the teacher?

Community involvement is important, but it should come after the garden is up and running. Trying to gather a committee first can stall your progress before you even plant the first seed.

Underestimating Your Students

Another reason many teachers think they need adult help is because they underestimate their students' ability to do physical work. You might think, “My class can’t handle digging, planting, and maintaining a garden. They certainly can't handle building one!” but trust me, they absolutely can. I've seen entire grassy areas transformed into plant-ready gardens in just one hour by a class of 3rd graders. They’re more capable than you might realize, and they’ll surprise you with their energy and determination.

Your students can do the planting, the growing, and even the designing—all under your guidance. You don’t need adult volunteers doing the physical labor.

School Gardens Are Educational Tools

Here’s a key point. School gardens aren’t just about growing food. They’re about using the garden as a teaching tool. And who knows how to teach better than you? A school garden should tie into your lesson plans, teaching everything from where food comes from to how it relates to math, science, language, art, and even social studies.

This is why you are the best person to get the garden started. You don’t need a whole team of parents or community members to begin. In fact, involving too many people too soon might make it harder for you to stay on track with your teaching goals.

When the garden is up and running, the community will naturally want to get involved. They’ll want to help water the garden during summer or even start their own gardens at home when their kids, your students, learn how to do it with you. But none of that needs to happen until the garden is already growing.

The Real Obstacle

The other reason teachers turn to a committee is that they feel their gardening skills are not good enough. You might be thinking, “I don’t know how to grow a garden,” or “What if it fails?” It’s natural to want to share the responsibility, but guess what! The parents and community members likely don’t know how to grow a garden either, and they definitely don’t know how to integrate it into your curriculum.

If you’re feeling unsure about the growing part, don’t worry—I’ve got you covered. I’ve dedicated past and future podcast episodes and blog posts to help you through this, and I also offer programs with step-by-step guides, lesson plans, and everything else you need to run a successful school garden. The growing part is the easy bit. What’s harder is the teaching, and that’s something you already excel at.

Why Committees Can Cause More Problems

Managing a committee takes time, time you already don’t have. Even if you’re not leading it, you’ll still need to be involved because the decisions they make will affect your classroom plans. And trust me, committee discussions can quickly become chaotic when everyone has a different vision for the garden.

The bottom line? You don’t need to go through the stress of managing volunteers, organizing community meetings, or working around other people's schedules. You’ve already got everything you need to start a successful school garden: your teaching skills and your students.

The New Approach

Instead of putting together a committee and wasting precious time, focus on what you’re already great at: teaching. Let your students take the lead in growing the garden, and watch as the community naturally becomes more involved when they see the success of the project. You’ll be able to teach your curriculum, grow a garden, and engage your students—all without the headache of managing a community group.

If you’re curious about this approach, I dive even deeper into the topic in Episode 10 of the School Gardens with Ease podcast. Be sure to check it out for more tips and advice!