Growing a School Garden by Holly Tilton Byrne and Laura Marsh, Dakota Rural Action

HOW TO START A SCHOOL GARDEN Factsheet #2|2016

For More Information: DRA Main Office 910 4th Street, Suite A PO Box 549 Brookings, SD 57006 605.697.5204 [email protected]

Rapid City Office 518 6th Street, Suite 6 Rapid City, SD 57701 605.716.2200

Dakota Rural Action is a grassroots, family agriculture and conservation group that organizes South Dakotans to protect our family farmers and ranchers, natural resources and unique way of life.

HARVEST AT ST. FRANCIS INDIAN SCHOOL, GOODTHINKING 4 ALL OUR RELATIONS SUCCESS STORIES

Growing a School Garden By Holly Tilton Byrne and Laura Marsh, Dakota Rural Action

Why Start a Garden? surveyed the state’s Food Service Directors about their Farm to School activities. In 2016, “School gardens are a growing initiative to 18% of 125 reporting districts have a school Dream big, but identify manageable, help children understand where their food garden. According to the USDA, more than incremental pieces that will build support for comes from and how their food choices 7,000 schools nationwide have a garden.2 your garden from other teachers and the impact their bodies, the environment, and community. Ideally, begin planning in the fall their communities at large.”1 Steps for Success: Planning Ahead! or winter so that when spring arrives you are ready to implement your plan. School gardens are a versatile, invaluable tool Before the actual garden work begins, it is that can be incorporated into any classroom important to plan to ensure the longevity and for any age and come in all shapes and sizes – effectiveness of the project. Wagner Community School indoor, outdoor, containers, vertical gardens, Students in Wagner have access to three indoor orchards, aquaponics systems and more.  Identify your garden allies: parents, the Food Service Director, administration, aquaponics systems, an outdoor garden plot ,and a Science, math, literature, language, health and geodesic greenhouse dome. Their project, under the nutrition courses can benefit from the hands- teachers, community members, and direction of one high school science teacher, began as on activities and living laboratory a garden can especially students. Create a committee an afterschool program and has expanded over several provide. of invested individuals to reflect the years. Students built, maintain, and test the systems. needs of your school and community. School Gardens in South Dakota  Define the garden’s purpose, and allow that vision to guide the rest of the steps South Dakotans are proud of their agricultural of your project. Is it primarily for background, and school gardens provide the education or food production? perfect setting to allow the next generation of  How will the garden be integrated into South Dakotans to connect with that tradition. the classroom?

For the last six years, Dakota Rural Action has The Garden: START SMALL. been the State Lead Organization for the National Farm to School Network and has

HOW TO START A SCHOOL GARDEN | Fact Sheet #2 2

Questions to Consider: Do you need season extension What will you grow? equipment for the fall and Fruits and vegetables, flowers, spring? Or does starting indoors herbs, native or medicinal to avoid seasonal plants, perennials? A pumpkin Considerations altogether make patch or salsa garden? All the sense to begin with? above? Use your identified purpose to choose where to What supplies and materials start. do you need?

How willSeeds, you tools, enforce soil foodamendments, Where will it grow? State University Extension has language,GET STARTED! and more. And safety practicesbuilding in supplies,the garden? time – can Is there a suitable place begunon the several school and researchIt’s impossible done in the to garden plan can for As always, communitysafety is of members the utmost donate any Red Cloud Indian School school grounds with accesscommunity to garden projects lendeverything, itself to and professional you’ll make a few importanceof inthese? a school setting. water and plenty of sunshine?across the state, and has developmentmistakes. But in theolder only students. way to What training will teachers, Classes of all ages participate in Red Cloud’s school Work with grounds keepingpartnered with Ground Works to learn is to try it out. Be sure to students, and community garden – even the first and second graders created these staff to identify an outdoorbegin spot school How gardens will you in some fund of it? Forevaluate more yourinformation project onat Farmthe end to crop markers, including their Lakota names. The school that’s best. membersthe public needDonations?schools to in keep Sioux Fundraising everyone Falls. events?Schoolof each programs, season visit to continue DRA’s to employs a garden coordinator to guide students through safe?Gardens What canPartnering be local, a great withand fall, local federal businesses Growingimprove. Farm And remember:to School in South garden activities. policies applyor to the your PTA? garden? Selling what youDakotaHave Fun! Facebook page, How will it grow? spring, and summer activity for produce to the school or thefarmtoschool.org or Raised beds? Greenhousechildren, or and lessons learned can community? There are manydakotarural.org. high tunnel? Vertical structuresapply to an array of classes: life opportunities to apply for grants or a few containers? Considersciences, health, nutrition, language to hire garden coordinators, accessibility for all students, as purchase materials and more. well as the crops days to Some initial leads include the maturity when planning. USDA, The Whole Kids Foundation, National Gardening Who will grow it? Association, and more. Identify the leaders whoFor willmore information on Farm to help maintain the garden.School programs,What willvisit DRA’s you do with the Growing Farm to School in South Should there be a Gardening produce you grow? 101 Training for involvedDakota Facebok page, Eat it? Sell it? Cook it? Donate it? faculty? Is there an afterschoolfarmtoschool.org or Teach students to do any of all of program or summer schooldakotarural.org. that those activities? could help when school is out?

Looking for in-depth information on any of these topics? Please contact the DRA office for more information.

Here are some recommended tools resources for more in-depth information to get started:

 National Farm to School Network: farmtoschool.org  USDA Farm to School: http://www.fns.usda.gov/farmt oschool/farm-school-resources  The Collective School Garden Network: http://www.csgn.org/  The Whole Kids Foundation: October is National Farm to School Month! Find out more about how to promote your garden project, https://www.wholekidsfoundat and all your Farm to School initiatives at farmtoschool.org/our-work/farm-to-school-month ion.org/resources/school- garden-resources/ South Dakota  iGrow –SDSU Extension: 18% of Schools 80% of Schools 75% are interested HOW TO START A SCHOOL GARDEN Factsheet #2|2016