Learning Gardens
The garden is an outdoor classroom full of opportunities for kids to explore and engage in hands-on activities. Science, math, health and language arts are just a few of the many subjects that can be taught using the garden – all while meeting state education benchmarks and standards.
La Semilla’s learning gardens are designed to grow an abundance of healthy food and serve as classrooms and living laboratories for hands-on learning. Students will engage with every step of the seed to table process from preparing soil to planting seeds to harvesting and eating vegetables, ending in composting food scraps to return nutrients to the soil. In their first year, schools create a design for their garden space. In the fall, raised vegetable garden beds will be installed so that beds are ready for their first planting in January 2018. Schools will also plant 6-10 fruit trees in their first year.
BUILDING YOUR LEARNING GARDEN:
- LEARNING GARDEN DESIGN
La Semilla school garden staff will survey your desired garden site and create a professional design for your Learning Garden to be approved by district facilities staff. The design will plan for additional garden beds and garden components that your school can apply for in your second year of the program.
- RAISED VEGETABLE GARDEN BEDS
Each school will receive 6 raised beds for vegetable production. Each bed is 4 ½ feet by 10 ½ feet and 20 inches high. The beds are made of pecky cedar and are designed to be durable, easy to use, and low maintenance.
- IRRIGATION
All Learning Garden components are connected to an automatic irrigation system to ensure plants receive sufficient water during the weekend, school breaks, and during our hot summers. Providing La Semilla access to a main water line, rather than a hose bib will ensure your irrigation will be long-lasting and prevent leaks.
- FRUIT TREES
Schools will receive 6-10 fruit trees selected from varieties that grow well in our climate and produce fruit while school is in session. Schools typically select from apple, pear, peach, apricot, pomegranate, and fig trees.
- ADDITIONAL LEARNING GARDEN SUPPLIES
- Essential garden tools: shovels, rakes, digging forks, hand trowels, hand cultivators and pruners.
- Harvesting materials: 16-quart stainless steel colander, 5-gallon salad spinner, 3-bin produce washing setup, produce bags, etc.
- A vermicomposting bin provides an introduction to composting.
- Educational garden signage as well as vegetable identification signs
CLICK HERE to see additional Learning Garden Components available in your second year of the Edible Education program.
TOOLS TO ENSURE YOUR SUCCESS:
- Planting Calendar aligned with Farm Box recipes
- Monthly Learning Garden Maintenance Calendar to help you stay on track
- Learning Garden Activity Guide with lessons designed by our Edible Education team and local teachers in our program
- On-site technical assistance troubleshooting school garden issues
- Learning Garden Immersion Days: La Semilla Staff wants to help ensure that gardens are used to the fullest by ensuring that planting, harvesting and composting are happening on time. To facilitate these goals, we are offering our staff time on site for 2 Learning Garden Immersion Days each year. We’ll schedule a meeting to check the status of your garden, and then plan, coordinate, and help lead hands-on learning in the garden.
HEALTHY SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT
