School Boards Can Support School Gardens with Policy Considerations that Sustain School Garden Education
Green Policies
David Bosted
NJSBA Legal & Policy Services
The arrival of Spring – at long last! — puts a spotlight on the environmental policies of school districts. Your district no doubt has a policy on safe use of pesticides (“Integrated Pest Management”) and probably has other “green” policies, such as safe storage of hazardous materials. But beyond the minimum, what opportunities are available in the area of “green” policies?
“School gardens” is an important area. The cover story in this issue is about Princeton School District’s success in with creating a garden at every school. It is a local success, but more than that, it is a national trend. California is the undisputed leader, the Heavyweight Title-holder on agriculture and school gardens. The California State Department of Education has issued this policy statement on the topic: “The Garden in Every School Program promotes linkages among the school classroom, school cafeteria, local agriculture, waste management, and others.” New Jersey, being the Garden State, has every incentive to live up to its own impressive title and to promote a garden at every school.
NJSBA files the topic of “school gardens” at #3508. This is adjacent to other topics about school buildings and grounds. NJSBA has several good sample policies on school gardens.
Use your policy statement to create a vision. The broad policy can be supplemented with in-depth regulations. For gardens, the details can be many. The popular Sunset Book called “Basic Gardening” runs to 125 pages. Even the basics such as design and maintenance of a garden can become quite complex. Most school gardens are small. Despite the small size, most gardeners have favorite plants and may want to inset them into the plan. If you create a small garden, you will need a vision, a design and a system for directing the planting and maintenance. When you decide on the details, place them in a regulation so that your policy is remains uncluttered, clear and inspirational.
How do you get the ball rolling? Governance is in the hands of the school board. The barest minimum is one board member to make a motion to create the school garden, plus another board member to second that motion. If a majority of board members can be convinced that a school garden is a good idea, you are on your way. It is the same with policy on school gardens. One member makes a motion to adopt policy, another will second the motion.
Some districts and charter schools have created school gardens without a vote or a policy. If the Superintendent is focused on the desirability of having a garden, it can be done very simply. One charter school in Trenton was allocated space to plant a garden on the sunny back lot of a nearby public branch library. The Chief School Administrator (CSA) took charge and made the garden happen. Arguably, urban children will derive an even greater benefit than others, because they may not have access to a garden at home. The sample policy has this provision: “Each school garden shall be under the direction of one or more individuals from school staff or the community, designated by the superintendent.”
Long story short: email me if you want our sample policy on school gardens in digital format. You can customize these models to meet your needs.
Other topics with environmental implications that are suitable for policy are (1) Energy, energy audit and energy conservation activities at #3500.1, (2) Operation and Maintenance of Plant at #3510, including recycling, and (3) the entire 7000-series, covering Construction, Remodeling and Renovation of school facilities.
NJSBA is always seeking additional sample policies from NJ districts. If you have a good model policy to share on any environmental topic, we are only an email away. We will place your policy in our files and distribute it to other districts upon their request.
FILE CODE: 3508
_ Monitored
__ Mandated
Sample Policy __ OtherReasons
_______________________________________________________________________
SCHOOL GARDENS
The School Board encourages and supports the development of school gardens. New Jersey is called “The Garden State.” School gardens can help students learn about nutrition and healthy eating. Therefore, school buildings and grounds shall include provision for school gardens.
The chief school administrator may develop detailed plans and regulations for the safe and efficient operation and maintenance of gardens on school grounds. Each school garden shall be under the direction of one or more individuals from school staff or the community, designated by the superintendent.
Benefits of school gardens
Our local school garden is part of a nationwide rediscovery of gardening as a tool for hands-on, student-centered learning. School gardens benefit classrooms and students by:
- Addressing multiple learning styles/opportunities concerning:
- Plant growth and other natural processes;
- Tools and their proper use;
- Where food comes from;
- Teaching patience and responsibility;
- Teaching students to work cooperatively;
- Focus on educational topics:
- The role of phytochemicals and beneficial effects:
- Against inflammation;
- Oxidative stress;
- Cancer; and
- Cardiovascular disease.
- Increasing physical activity;
- Building classroom relationships and school spirit;
- Improving social skills, socializing;
- Creating an appreciation for team work;
- Increasing self-esteem and self-worth.
- Supporting interdisciplinary education;
- Serving as an outdoor science lab to teach about:
- Seed germination;
- Composting;
- The life cycle of plants;
- Pollination and the parts of a flower.
- Beautifying the school environment.
- Promoting garden foods and good nutrition;
- Improving environmental awareness;
- Demonstrate best practice sustainable design;
- The value of compost as a soil supplement, plus reducing landfill disposal of waste;
- Link farm to school, in the Garden State;
- Saving money while improving nutrition;
Integration of the School Gardens into the Curriculum
- Integrate eating experiences, gardens, and nutrition education into the curriculum for math, science, social studies and language arts at all grade level;
- Establish a school garden in every school. Give students the opportunity to plant, harvest, prepare, cook and eat food they have grown;
- Establish relationships with local farms. Encourage farmers and farm workers to come to the school for classroom talks and arrange for students to visit farms.
Community Support and Participation
The board encourages community participation in creating and maintaining the school gardens. Community participation will be consistent with policies #1230, “School connected organizations” and #1200 “Volunteers.”
Location and Design
The location and design of each school garden will be approved by the Superintendent, the school principal and the director of buildings and grounds. Special consideration will be given to access to clean water (or stored rainwater), good drainage, storage of tools, sunny orientation, blockage of harsh winds from the north and northwest, beautification of school grounds, access by students, and student safety. The garden design will promote accessibility and will include some seating.
Consideration will be given to creating raised bed gardens that include sections for herbs, garden vegetables, flowering garden plants that bloom while school is in session, a small composting area, and a small cold-frame to extend the growing season of the garden.
Poster contest
The district will sponsor a student poster contest, annually or as circumstances permit, to illustrate the beneficial aspects of the school gardens, with awards. The posters will be displayed in appropriate locations, in recognition of the artistic efforts of the students who create the posters.