School & Community Garden
Environmental Sustainability: Lifecycle Management
OVERVIEW
This Environmental Sustainability Strategy will begin with the implementation of a school vegetable/food garden located on school premises. It will demonstrate and act upon environmental sustainability, as well as being an enjoyable educational tool for students and staff alike. Produce from the garden will be used by students in food preparation and cooking classes, as part of the school’s current Home Economics program, as well as being supplied to the school kitchen to replace some supplies currently purchased elsewhere.
Depending on its initial success, subsequent stages could see the project being extended to include members of the external community, once established. This expansion has the potential to provide: further opportunities for plant variety; additional environmental projects such as the establishment of native gardens to attract birds and insects; as well as increased production, through the additional potential funding in the form of memberships, further government grants and community donations. This strategy will focus on the initial stage.
PURPOSE & BENEFITS
Environmental Sustainability
· Reduction on energy consumption used through external producers
· Reduction in energy and costs associated with food transportation
· Producing food more organically, with less chemicals/fertilisers
· Use of seasonal vegetables to maximise output
· Waste minimisation: school kitchen scraps / lawn clippings / recycled items used where possible (in
conjunction with school recycling program), including shredded paper used for compost / mulch, etc.
· Water sustainability practices will be used in conjunction with the schools Water Conservation
initiative. This may include direct drip irrigation and main watering during evenings, etc.
· To maintain environmental sustainability and incorporate these ideals into the project implementation,
Orion Primary School will endeavour to use recycled materials where possible in the construction of the garden, as well as ensuring excess building materials and waste items are recycled, in conjunction with the school recycling program and Building Design projects.
· Proceeds collected from the School Garden may help to fund other environmental sustainability initiatives, as well as contribute to the schools Carbon Offsetting project.
Education
In 2007, a school in the Swan Valley started a garden, and by the following year it had become ‘an important part of the school
community, with all ages working together to keep it productive. Teachers have also welcomed the extra learning opportunities that it
provides’ (2011, ABC). Some of the many education benefits from the Orion School Garden project will include:
· Learning the lifecycle of food, from seed propagation through production, harvesting, collecting seeds for replanting, composting of waste, etc
· Hands on skills for students and staff: gardening, cooking fresh grown produce, increased self-sufficiency at school, with inspiration and ideas to take home
· Learning about the eco-system, including the role of insects and birds in the garden / pest management, as well as weather and its effects on the environment (particularly in relation to seasonal produce, etc)
· Fostering a team environment across all ages and capabilities within the school community
· Potential for external experts on environment, gardening and food, etc, to provide information, demonstrations and inspiration to students and staff
Produce
Dependent on the quantities of vegetables produced, the following are possible uses. Initially, small output is expected with an emphasis on student learning.
· Supplied to Home Economics department for student cooking classes
· Supplied to school kitchen (at reduced cost)
· Regular ‘Fresh Produce Day’: a small onsite market where parents and citizens can come along and purchase vegetables grown in the garden
· Proceeds from sales may be used in the maintenance and development of the school garden, and potentially towards carbon offsetting and other school projects requiring fundraising
FUNDING / EXPENDITURE
Potential Income Sources
· Local Government Grants: The City of Joondalup has $25,000 available annually to distribute to schools and community groups as part of its Environmental Development Funding Program (City of Joondalup, 2009a). Previous recipients include Ocean Reef Primary School and Dalmain Primary School, both of which used funds to purchase raised garden beds, soil, seedlings and gardening equipment, etc (City of Joondalup, 2009b).
· State/Federal Government Grants: Landcare provides funding to school projects, with a number of WA schools recently receiving grants through partners Coles and Yates. Some of the recent WA school recipients included Forrestfield Primary, Mirrabooka ESC, North Cottesloe Primary & Two Rocks Primary (Landcare, n.d.)
· Fundraising: completed by students, parents and staff
· Donations: monetary as well as non-monetary (materials, plants, soil, etc)
· Sale of Produce
· Memberships: Stage 2 in particular could include a paid membership program implemented, with funds used
in the maintenance and development of the garden and its facilities
Expenditure
During the implementation process, the Orion School Garden Committee will call for donations from members of the broader community and local businesses, before calculating the true cost of the project. Therefore, the below simply demonstrates the types of expenditure likely to be required.
· Set-up Costs: materials used in garden construction, garden shed, equipment, etc
· Ongoing Costs: consumables or items that may need replacement such as plants, soil and gardening tools
IMPLEMENTATION
Orion School Garden Management / Committee
Expressions of interest are invited from school staff members who wish to join the Orion School Garden Committee, volunteer, or find out more about any aspect of the project. Committee membership may be open to:
· Teachers / School Staff Members
· Student Representatives (year 6 & 7)
· Parents & Citizens
· Community Members with expertise in environment, gardening, food preparation or other related
activities
Partners
Local businesses will be approached to form partnerships, where both the school garden and the local businesses will benefit. In exchange for donated or discounted goods and services, the Orion School Garden Committee can offer publicity to local businesses in the way of signage and recognition in school publications (such as the newsletter), which reaches hundreds of households monthly. Such businesses may include:
· Local gardening centre / nursery: supply of seeds / seedlings, expertise
· Local hardware store: supply of garden bed construction materials / gardening equipment
· Landscape supply: supply of manure / fertiliser / soil, etc
Proposed Garden Elements
The following are the initial garden elements that have been identified for incorporation into the garden design. Each will need to be
either funded or donated, or where possible made from recycled materials:
· Raised Garden Beds with walkways between
· Lockable Garden Shed
· Rainwater Tank
· Irrigation System
· Propagation / potting benches
· Worm Farm
· Composting (2 bays)
· Gardening Tools / Equipment
· Seeds/Seedlings
· Soil / Fertiliser
Location
The garden could be on or within walking distance of school premises. Approximately 200sqm would initially be required. During stage 2, the garden should be accessible to external community at allocated times outside of school operation (e.g. Mon to Fri: 7am – 6pm / Sat & Sun: 8am – 4pm) and may require extension to accommodate additional gardening space. The garden site would require a sunny location, in close proximity to a water supply.
Step By Step Implementation Plan
1. Expressions of interest invited from P&C, teachers and experts within the community, to develop an Orion School Garden (OSG) Committee. The OSG Committee would coordinate remaining activities
2. Determine a location for the garden – needs to be convenient to school children, with the potential to expand during stage 2 to incorporate community members
3. Plan the particulars of the garden and layout to determine required materials, quantities of soil, etc. Source recycled materials where possible. Involve school children in this process
4. Submit applications for funding / implement fundraising efforts (school children can be involved) / call for monetary donations as well as donations from local businesses of required elements (e.g. from seedlings and soil through to a garden shed and water tank)
5. Establish an initial budget for costs including set-up and ongoing expenditure
6. Determine a plan and roster system if necessary for school children / classes to be involved in construction / gardening activities
7. Expressions of interest invited from external resources to assist with actual implementation (such as trades people and labourers for construction, gardening experts for plant suggestion, etc)
8. Procurement of construction materials (through donation or purchase as established previously)
9. Garden construction - installation of raised beds/soil/walkways/shade, etc (school children can be involved in some of these construction activities)
10. Procurement of seeds / seedlings and all other gardening equipment (through donation or purchase as established previously)
11. Commence gardening activities involving school children
12. Coordinate ongoing garden maintenance
Schedule
As this project is part of Orion Primary School’s medium term strategic plan, approximate project completion goals are as follows:
· Garden planning activities Commence Term 1, 2013
· Garden construction activities Commence Term 2, 2013
· Actual gardening activities Commence Term 3, 2013
Timing may be better assessed once the planning stage has been completed. This will allow teachers to plan ahead with incorporating gardening activities into lessons, where student involvement is practical. Additionally, consideration should be made for other environmental sustainability projects within the school, once each of the projects has been assessed and prioritised.
EVALUATION
The purpose of evaluation is to, ‘identify areas of strengths/weaknesses [within the project proposal] and to suggest improvements’, (Ogle, G.J., 2006), in order for the effectiveness of the initiative to be determined.
Employee Evaluation Survey (Pre-implementation)
Prior to implementation, evaluation is essential to the planning and development of the School Garden project, to ensure that staff are involved and supportive of both the concept and the implementation process. Employee participation in this evaluation would be greatly appreciated. Please take a few minutes to complete the short survey via the Orion School Garden Evaluation Survey* link, where you will also be able to provide suggestions and ideas for proposal improvement.
Small Group Evaluation (Pre-implementation)
Additionally, a small group evaluation will take place in the near future. If you are interested in participating, particularly if you would like to become involved in the School Garden initiative, please register your details with the Orion Innovation Committee. Results will be analysed and reported by the Committee, before the project plan is reviewed.
Ongoing Evaluation Tools Specific to Target Areas (Post-implementation)
Once the Orion School Garden has been established, ongoing evaluation will be sought from additional sources, including more specific feedback from teachers, school kitchen staff and other staff directly involved with the School Garden, as well as specific short surveys tailored for students and parents. The aim of the ongoing evaluation will be to continually identify ways in which the School Garden can be improved or expanded; what produce provides the best yields or is most popular; new opportunities for fundraising, etc.
* Actual Survey Not Included
OVERVIEW
This Environmental Sustainability Strategy will begin with the implementation of a school vegetable/food garden located on school premises. It will demonstrate and act upon environmental sustainability, as well as being an enjoyable educational tool for students and staff alike. Produce from the garden will be used by students in food preparation and cooking classes, as part of the school’s current Home Economics program, as well as being supplied to the school kitchen to replace some supplies currently purchased elsewhere.
Depending on its initial success, subsequent stages could see the project being extended to include members of the external community, once established. This expansion has the potential to provide: further opportunities for plant variety; additional environmental projects such as the establishment of native gardens to attract birds and insects; as well as increased production, through the additional potential funding in the form of memberships, further government grants and community donations. This strategy will focus on the initial stage.
PURPOSE & BENEFITS
Environmental Sustainability
· Reduction on energy consumption used through external producers
· Reduction in energy and costs associated with food transportation
· Producing food more organically, with less chemicals/fertilisers
· Use of seasonal vegetables to maximise output
· Waste minimisation: school kitchen scraps / lawn clippings / recycled items used where possible (in
conjunction with school recycling program), including shredded paper used for compost / mulch, etc.
· Water sustainability practices will be used in conjunction with the schools Water Conservation
initiative. This may include direct drip irrigation and main watering during evenings, etc.
· To maintain environmental sustainability and incorporate these ideals into the project implementation,
Orion Primary School will endeavour to use recycled materials where possible in the construction of the garden, as well as ensuring excess building materials and waste items are recycled, in conjunction with the school recycling program and Building Design projects.
· Proceeds collected from the School Garden may help to fund other environmental sustainability initiatives, as well as contribute to the schools Carbon Offsetting project.
Education
In 2007, a school in the Swan Valley started a garden, and by the following year it had become ‘an important part of the school
community, with all ages working together to keep it productive. Teachers have also welcomed the extra learning opportunities that it
provides’ (2011, ABC). Some of the many education benefits from the Orion School Garden project will include:
· Learning the lifecycle of food, from seed propagation through production, harvesting, collecting seeds for replanting, composting of waste, etc
· Hands on skills for students and staff: gardening, cooking fresh grown produce, increased self-sufficiency at school, with inspiration and ideas to take home
· Learning about the eco-system, including the role of insects and birds in the garden / pest management, as well as weather and its effects on the environment (particularly in relation to seasonal produce, etc)
· Fostering a team environment across all ages and capabilities within the school community
· Potential for external experts on environment, gardening and food, etc, to provide information, demonstrations and inspiration to students and staff
Produce
Dependent on the quantities of vegetables produced, the following are possible uses. Initially, small output is expected with an emphasis on student learning.
· Supplied to Home Economics department for student cooking classes
· Supplied to school kitchen (at reduced cost)
· Regular ‘Fresh Produce Day’: a small onsite market where parents and citizens can come along and purchase vegetables grown in the garden
· Proceeds from sales may be used in the maintenance and development of the school garden, and potentially towards carbon offsetting and other school projects requiring fundraising
FUNDING / EXPENDITURE
Potential Income Sources
· Local Government Grants: The City of Joondalup has $25,000 available annually to distribute to schools and community groups as part of its Environmental Development Funding Program (City of Joondalup, 2009a). Previous recipients include Ocean Reef Primary School and Dalmain Primary School, both of which used funds to purchase raised garden beds, soil, seedlings and gardening equipment, etc (City of Joondalup, 2009b).
· State/Federal Government Grants: Landcare provides funding to school projects, with a number of WA schools recently receiving grants through partners Coles and Yates. Some of the recent WA school recipients included Forrestfield Primary, Mirrabooka ESC, North Cottesloe Primary & Two Rocks Primary (Landcare, n.d.)
· Fundraising: completed by students, parents and staff
· Donations: monetary as well as non-monetary (materials, plants, soil, etc)
· Sale of Produce
· Memberships: Stage 2 in particular could include a paid membership program implemented, with funds used
in the maintenance and development of the garden and its facilities
Expenditure
During the implementation process, the Orion School Garden Committee will call for donations from members of the broader community and local businesses, before calculating the true cost of the project. Therefore, the below simply demonstrates the types of expenditure likely to be required.
· Set-up Costs: materials used in garden construction, garden shed, equipment, etc
· Ongoing Costs: consumables or items that may need replacement such as plants, soil and gardening tools
IMPLEMENTATION
Orion School Garden Management / Committee
Expressions of interest are invited from school staff members who wish to join the Orion School Garden Committee, volunteer, or find out more about any aspect of the project. Committee membership may be open to:
· Teachers / School Staff Members
· Student Representatives (year 6 & 7)
· Parents & Citizens
· Community Members with expertise in environment, gardening, food preparation or other related
activities
Partners
Local businesses will be approached to form partnerships, where both the school garden and the local businesses will benefit. In exchange for donated or discounted goods and services, the Orion School Garden Committee can offer publicity to local businesses in the way of signage and recognition in school publications (such as the newsletter), which reaches hundreds of households monthly. Such businesses may include:
· Local gardening centre / nursery: supply of seeds / seedlings, expertise
· Local hardware store: supply of garden bed construction materials / gardening equipment
· Landscape supply: supply of manure / fertiliser / soil, etc
Proposed Garden Elements
The following are the initial garden elements that have been identified for incorporation into the garden design. Each will need to be
either funded or donated, or where possible made from recycled materials:
· Raised Garden Beds with walkways between
· Lockable Garden Shed
· Rainwater Tank
· Irrigation System
· Propagation / potting benches
· Worm Farm
· Composting (2 bays)
· Gardening Tools / Equipment
· Seeds/Seedlings
· Soil / Fertiliser
Location
The garden could be on or within walking distance of school premises. Approximately 200sqm would initially be required. During stage 2, the garden should be accessible to external community at allocated times outside of school operation (e.g. Mon to Fri: 7am – 6pm / Sat & Sun: 8am – 4pm) and may require extension to accommodate additional gardening space. The garden site would require a sunny location, in close proximity to a water supply.
Step By Step Implementation Plan
1. Expressions of interest invited from P&C, teachers and experts within the community, to develop an Orion School Garden (OSG) Committee. The OSG Committee would coordinate remaining activities
2. Determine a location for the garden – needs to be convenient to school children, with the potential to expand during stage 2 to incorporate community members
3. Plan the particulars of the garden and layout to determine required materials, quantities of soil, etc. Source recycled materials where possible. Involve school children in this process
4. Submit applications for funding / implement fundraising efforts (school children can be involved) / call for monetary donations as well as donations from local businesses of required elements (e.g. from seedlings and soil through to a garden shed and water tank)
5. Establish an initial budget for costs including set-up and ongoing expenditure
6. Determine a plan and roster system if necessary for school children / classes to be involved in construction / gardening activities
7. Expressions of interest invited from external resources to assist with actual implementation (such as trades people and labourers for construction, gardening experts for plant suggestion, etc)
8. Procurement of construction materials (through donation or purchase as established previously)
9. Garden construction - installation of raised beds/soil/walkways/shade, etc (school children can be involved in some of these construction activities)
10. Procurement of seeds / seedlings and all other gardening equipment (through donation or purchase as established previously)
11. Commence gardening activities involving school children
12. Coordinate ongoing garden maintenance
Schedule
As this project is part of Orion Primary School’s medium term strategic plan, approximate project completion goals are as follows:
· Garden planning activities Commence Term 1, 2013
· Garden construction activities Commence Term 2, 2013
· Actual gardening activities Commence Term 3, 2013
Timing may be better assessed once the planning stage has been completed. This will allow teachers to plan ahead with incorporating gardening activities into lessons, where student involvement is practical. Additionally, consideration should be made for other environmental sustainability projects within the school, once each of the projects has been assessed and prioritised.
EVALUATION
The purpose of evaluation is to, ‘identify areas of strengths/weaknesses [within the project proposal] and to suggest improvements’, (Ogle, G.J., 2006), in order for the effectiveness of the initiative to be determined.
Employee Evaluation Survey (Pre-implementation)
Prior to implementation, evaluation is essential to the planning and development of the School Garden project, to ensure that staff are involved and supportive of both the concept and the implementation process. Employee participation in this evaluation would be greatly appreciated. Please take a few minutes to complete the short survey via the Orion School Garden Evaluation Survey* link, where you will also be able to provide suggestions and ideas for proposal improvement.
Small Group Evaluation (Pre-implementation)
Additionally, a small group evaluation will take place in the near future. If you are interested in participating, particularly if you would like to become involved in the School Garden initiative, please register your details with the Orion Innovation Committee. Results will be analysed and reported by the Committee, before the project plan is reviewed.
Ongoing Evaluation Tools Specific to Target Areas (Post-implementation)
Once the Orion School Garden has been established, ongoing evaluation will be sought from additional sources, including more specific feedback from teachers, school kitchen staff and other staff directly involved with the School Garden, as well as specific short surveys tailored for students and parents. The aim of the ongoing evaluation will be to continually identify ways in which the School Garden can be improved or expanded; what produce provides the best yields or is most popular; new opportunities for fundraising, etc.
* Actual Survey Not Included
RESOURCES
ABC (2011). Gardening Australia Fact Sheet: Creating a School Garden: Part 6. Retrieved 13 October 2012 from http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s2169794.htm
City of Joondalup. (2009a). Environmental Development Community Funding. Retrieved 12 October 2012 from http://www.joondalup.wa.gov.au/Live/Environment/community/EnvironmentalDevelopmentCommunityFunding.aspx
City of Joondalup. (2009b). Environmental Development Community Funding: Previous Recipients. Retrieved 12 October 2012 from http://www.joondalup.wa.gov.au/Live/Environment/community/EnvironmentalDevelopmentCommunityFunding/Previousrecipients.aspx
Goodall, A. (2010). Funding Your Community Garden. Perth: Growing Communities WA. Retrieved 10 October 2012 from http://www.communitygardenswa.org.au/media/articles/Resources---Resources-To-Download/Funding-Your-Community-Garden.pdf
Landcare (n.d.). Junior Landcare Grants Round 3
Recipients. Retrieved 17 October 2012 from http://www.landcareonline.com.au/?page_id=2047
Ogle, G. J. (2002). Towards a formative evaluation tool. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University). ProQuest Dissertations and Theses,
, 135-135 p. Retrieved 17 October 2012 from http://ezproxy.ecu.edu.au/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/305489824?accountid=10675.
(305489824).
Photographic Resources
http://www.juniorlandcare.com.au/
http://www.landcareonline.com.au/
http://www.schoolgardenwizard.org/
ABC (2011). Gardening Australia Fact Sheet: Creating a School Garden: Part 6. Retrieved 13 October 2012 from http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s2169794.htm
City of Joondalup. (2009a). Environmental Development Community Funding. Retrieved 12 October 2012 from http://www.joondalup.wa.gov.au/Live/Environment/community/EnvironmentalDevelopmentCommunityFunding.aspx
City of Joondalup. (2009b). Environmental Development Community Funding: Previous Recipients. Retrieved 12 October 2012 from http://www.joondalup.wa.gov.au/Live/Environment/community/EnvironmentalDevelopmentCommunityFunding/Previousrecipients.aspx
Goodall, A. (2010). Funding Your Community Garden. Perth: Growing Communities WA. Retrieved 10 October 2012 from http://www.communitygardenswa.org.au/media/articles/Resources---Resources-To-Download/Funding-Your-Community-Garden.pdf
Landcare (n.d.). Junior Landcare Grants Round 3
Recipients. Retrieved 17 October 2012 from http://www.landcareonline.com.au/?page_id=2047
Ogle, G. J. (2002). Towards a formative evaluation tool. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University). ProQuest Dissertations and Theses,
, 135-135 p. Retrieved 17 October 2012 from http://ezproxy.ecu.edu.au/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/305489824?accountid=10675.
(305489824).
Photographic Resources
http://www.juniorlandcare.com.au/
http://www.landcareonline.com.au/
http://www.schoolgardenwizard.org/