Building support for school gardens can be tough. It can be difficult to put a case across to a principal, who may or may not like gardening and understand its benefits. School councils may or may not agree with supporting a school garden and without teacher support, the project will more than likely fail.
Perhaps the key to long term sustainability of a school garden project is to elicit political commitment.Creating national policies that support school gardens is instrumental to improving education is necessary for their long term survival. National policies will filter down to board policy implementation and support.
By using an institutional framework, long term support is guaranteed and participation of key stakeholders is supported. Who are the stakeholders? They are the school administration, teachers, parents and students, along with community representatives who support the garden with their time and expertise. Institutional support also means that teachers gain in training and schools gain in the provision of funding.
With the purpose of improving overall education for students, possibilities are almost endless for curriculum. Gardens support school curriculum and help to improve health of students involved by introducing healthy nutrition and lifestyles. Children are familiarized with methods of sustainable food production and school gardens can be used in hot lunch preparation for the students.
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