New curriculum grows from successful school garden program in Waterloo region

A food garden program that has helped buildgardens in schools across the regionis now working to create a formal curriculum for teachers.

The Waterloo Region School Food Garden (WRSFG) program has been key in establishing and expanding more than two dozen food gardens in elementary and secondary schools since 2017.

"We think garden-based learning is an incredible opportunity for students and communities," program coordinator Allison Eady said.

WRSFGacts as a facilitator to schools and educators interested in building a garden intheir school by providing the funds and resources they need.

With moreand more interest from educators and schools, Eady said it was time to createa formal curriculum teachers can use alongside the gardens.Theproject is a partnership with the Cambridge Self Help Food Bank.

"We're trying to fill in some of the gaps," Eadysaid. "There's some really great work being done by individual teachers and it's hard for them to share that around the region."

WRSFG haveput out a survey asking educators for feedback on the curriculum.

Eadysaidfeedback so far points tohaving more resources for older students andhow to weavegarden-based lessons into different subjects like art, math and science.

She hopes to meet with teachers in the comingweeks to start brainstorming ideas and resources.

A different kind of learning tool

The gardens have become avaluable teaching tool for teachers. Some use them in their environmental studies classes, science classes and even art classes, Eady said.

"In some schools, it's a little flower bed that students help take care of and some of them have incredible green classrooms," she said.

The gardens alsogivevolunteer opportunities for students in the summer months by helpingmaintainthe gardensand prepping them for the fall.

Eady said teachers who are interested in getting a garden can start by having a conversation with their school. Finding an ideal spot for the garden, whether indoors or outdoors,also goes a long way.

Through the Ontario Trillium Foundation,WRSFGprovides grants to schoolsto help get the resources they need. Eady said they have 12 grants available for schools this year.