Thanks everyone! Gardengal-you're so right--my first task is to define and map out the areas. It's freezing cold and supposed to snow so that'll have to wait until next week! Kelly-Great idea for a chalk or white board. I'll have to see if I can come up with a water proof version. Bindersbee-I've been to the SFG website many times and would like to get that new book soon. I sort of do square foot gardening with extensive planting in raised beds in my own garden. My son (9yrs) was excited at the possibility of each student having their own square to plant. The problem I foresee is that each class will have their own bed which in our zone will be planted in April/May and then school gets out and after summer they all have a new class/garden bed in August. So the kids will be split up from their square. hmmm. All of my begging this week to local businesses has paid off as I got an email this week from a renowned landscape designer in the Denver area who will meet me at the school for one hour (at no charge!) on April 18th to help me with the design and to map out the perimeters! Woohoo! Thanks again. Charlene

Our garden started as a school garden in 2003, but has evolved into a school-age daycare garden. That was mostly because the kids in the daycare had more time, interest and energy for gardening. In the summer, the daycare students (K thru 4th or 5th) are there just about from 6 to 6. During the school year, there was little time to actually garden. The garden funds are raised through plant sales. There are only 4-H volunteers at this time. The garden has a 7 foot fence for deer. There are 2 foot beds around the 40'by40' garden. There are six 3'by 12'foot beds and two 6' by 12'beds. Some of the garden is just free flowing flower garden. There are 3 espaliered fruit trees and 3 blueberry bushes. In the summer there is enough food to send home at least 2 bags of produce for each student a week. There is also some food used for meals. Most of the food goes directly into the kid's mouths. All seeds are started by the students. There are 200+ lettuce starts, broccoli, celery and cabbage started already. It would be nice to have a hoop house for extended garden, but we are volunteers and need some time off. Thanksgiving works out to be the best last harvest and to start again about the middle to end of February. I have learned that even the Kindergarten kids can learn a lot if the learning is hands on. They all learned how to do percentages (seed germination test) from planting 10 seeds and adding a zero to the number of seeds that grew. The kids who have been doing this for 2 to three years are able to teach the new students and their parents. We use all adult sized hand tools and they must take a safety test before allowed to use them. There are some simple books on insects and weeds that I have available for them to look up what they find. Edible plants (weeds) are identified. There are no poisonous plants in the garden, but many edible flowers and unusual vegetables. Each year I let the children choose what they want to grow. Last year almost everyone hated tomatoes, but loved broccoli and brussel sprouts. This year it is lettuce, corn, spinach, peas and beans that are on the list to grow. I have found that the kids learn if the people working with them are enjoying learning and they get to do things rather than just listening.

I am a volunteer of an organic vegetable garden at a public elementary school in Tampa. I did a fall/winter/spring design. I also helped to start the garden this summer by weeding (in full sun!)and wheel barreling in compost and mulch. Since Hills. County does not have a budget for this type of garden.The principal had to be creative & move around allotted mulch $ for the compost which was trucked in from an organic farm in Dade City. It has been very difficult to get the teachers involved.The main thing now is to try to get outdoor classrooms in the garden & into the curriculum.

That's sounds interesting! Thanks Mia, I'll be inviting both my sisters. :) Alexis