Why is gardening in schools so important?

Why should schools think about school gardens?

Why should schools think about building gardens in their schoolyards?

Gardening is becoming more and more important in a world that has become ever more disconnected from nature and food. The news media is forever telling us that children are becoming more obese than in previous generations and obesity and its related illnesses are becoming more and more of a burden on the decreasing budgets of healthcare authorities.

Children spend most of their waking hours in the school environment. With heavy emphasis on standardized testing and curriculum, recess has been cut down and children are allowed less and less free playtime for socializing and physical activity. A third of a child's daily intake of food occurs at school.

Schools can be at the forefront of prevention and considering to build a school garden on the usually vast and empty schoolyard, can be a start in the war against obesity. School gardens can teach students so many things related to health and healthy choices. Growing food can increase a child's sense of self-esteem and pride in their environment. Watching the amazement of a child in learning how seeds grow and what soil feels like is truly wonderful. Research suggests that children are willing to try the food they grow and often this can be the start of learning about food and nutrition, with the hope that this carries through to adulthood.

In Ontario, a new food and beverage policy is to be implemented in schools by September 2011. This policy affects mainly food and beverages that are to be sold in schools, not brought from home. What better time to begin a school garden at your school. This could be linked to the new policy, providing linkages to what the children can grow in a garden.

Gardening teaches children so much more than just sitting in a classroom learning reading, writing and math. Gardening can be incorporated into school curriculum, teaching children about the environment, sustainability and nutrition. School gardens can be incorporated into reading, writing, science, math, history and geography class. Curriculum ideas are accessible on the internet, with huge amounts of information to be learned. There are also books available, written by teachers on the subject of school gardens.

There are also many videos available on the internet regarding school gardens. Check out school gardens on youtube for examples.

There is a huge growth of school gardens in Canada and much support can be fostered in the community to start garden projects. Community support means that the connectedness we all need to nature will be brought home by the children as they talk to their parents about their days in the school gardens. Healthy schools, healthy communities and a connectedness with the outside is what we all require.