School gardens are a place where students can learn about growing and eating healthy food. Through hands-on learning, teachers help students connect with the plant life cycle, while learning about seeds, soil, sun, water, bugs and weeds.
On this page
About the program
Each participating school receives two raised garden beds, soil and seeds to get started (with opportunity for expansion over time). The program is open to all schools in Strathcona County, from elementary to high school.
School gardens inspire creativity and wonder. Kindergarteners learn that fresh-picked spinach is sweet and tasty and that good nutrition helps grow muscles. High School students incorporate growing and harvesting vegetables and herbs into their culinary arts program. In the fall, harvest soups made with root vegetables are ways teachers and students celebrate growing food.
School garden program history
Salisbury Greenhouse started the Salisbury School Garden Pilot Project in 2013 and administered the project from September 2013 to March 2017. For Salisbury Greenhouse, the project was “a way to give back to the community by offering their resources, as passionate gardeners, to educators in order to enrich our children’s educational experience and nurture a love of growing in the next generation of gardeners”.
In 2017, Salisbury Greenhouse invited Strathcona County to take over the administration of the School Garden program with the goal to expand the program. Salisbury Greenhouse continues to provide guidance and materials support.
School garden participants
| Year | Participants |
|---|---|
| 2020/2021 |
|
| 2019/2020 |
|
|
2018/19 |
|
| 2017/18 |
|
| 2016/17 |
|
| 2015/16 |
|
| 2014/15 |
|
| 2013/14 |
|
How to start or expand a school garden
Here is an overview of the process for starting/expanding a school garden:
- A maximum of five new schools per year are invited to participate in the program.
- Identify two staff contacts per school. Their role is to champion the project and create a plan for the school garden.
- Successful applicants will demonstrate a purpose for their school garden that supports student learning and the celebration of growing food.
- Strathcona County and their local partners will supply successful applicants with everything they need to get started:
- Two raised beds
- Soil
- Seeds
- Tools
Contact us to talk about your idea and to request an application.
School Garden map
View all of the school gardens in Strathcona County on our Urban Agriculture map.
Thank you to our partner:
Recreation, Parks and Culture
Phone: 780-467-2211
Email: recreation@strathcona.ca
