Getting into Gardening
I grew up on a grain farm in Victoria, and believe that my upbringing has grown in me a resilience and understanding about life.
There are numerous studies which talk about the lack of contact with nature negatively affecting children’s health, well-being and academic performance. As a result, many opportunities that connect students with nature have been part of school life for quite a while. Think of nature play in the playground, in the sandpit, playing around logs, stepping stones, and rolling in the grass. More recently schools have introduced garden spaces where children can explore firsthand the satisfaction, joy of being in the garden and working with nature to harvest fresh produce.
In our Connected schools, gardening is a highly valued extra-curricular activity. Each of our schools offers opportunities for growing fruit/vegetables/ herbs/flowers.
There are many reasons why children should garden (this includes big kids too!), here are a few:
- Teaches about nature, environmental awareness…and more
- Gives children exercise, fresh air and vitamin D
- Teaches children about where fresh produce comes from, how it grows
- Encourages children to eat produce they have grown and know how good it tastes
- Gives children an opportunity to use produce in their cooking activities
- Offers children a new experience of selling their produce at market stalls
- Prepares children, as the seasons and cycles of life are experienced through gardening
- Giving opportunities to garden satisfies learning, inquiry and understanding in a very hands-on and healthy way.
Our schools place value in a future focus for our students. Gardening, composting, sustainable practices and the connections they have across many learning areas are a significant part of our planning and thinking for our future.
We celebrate growing in different ways in Connected schools.
Karen Schoff
Director of Learning & Resources
Good Shepherd Lutheran School