Creating School Gardens

Imagine a schoolyard where students meander through a landscape that is filled with pathways, shade, food, flowers, benches, games, and art. A landscape where the child is intimately connected and familiar with plants they have planted, flowers for cutting, herbs, food, and places to study and play. This vision is the one many in our community, here in Hawai`i, and elsewhere in the world are creating.

Now, picture a school where a child walks through a scrubby, weed, dirt and lawn patch on their way to and from classes, lunch and other activities. Surprisingly, even in Hawai`i , where we live in a lush subtropical climate, this scene is all too common. Other interactions with the outdoor campus might include recess, games and organized sports.

Today, there is a momentum building to help schools develop gardens--with a focus on offering healthy, nutritious local food in the lunchroom. Creating change at our schools will create powerful changes, not only for the children, also for the parents, teachers, and surrounding community.

Several years ago I conducted a study of Hawai’i Schools to learn from teachers about their success and challenges in creating a school garden. Examples from this research were compiled into the book entitled, Growing an Educational Garden at Your School: A Study of the Hawai`i Experience.

Growing an Educational Garden at Your School: A Study of the Hawai`i Experience,
showcases case studies from eighteen gardens. Full publication is available from:
http://www.naturetalks.net/grow_book.html

NatureTalks also offers presentations; workshops and planning sessions to help schools get growing!

Aquaponics

Recently, I had the chance to work with a group of teachers and interested residents who want to establish aquaponics systems. Aquaponics is an interesting mix of aquaculture combined with hydroponics. There are some very exciting things about this system, it has high yields, a low environmental impact and could be retrofitted for small entrepreneurs, backyard farmers or commercial ventures.

In Hawaii, as well as elsewhere in our country people are becoming more concerned with sustainable issues, in particular, growing local organic food. Here on Kauai, where we have a wonderful year-round growing climate, we still import an astounding 80 to 90% of our food.

My role in the aquaponics project is as a grant writer, helping to identify good sources for funding, guide the program goals and streamline a realistic budget. Aquaponics, just a few short weeks ago was a mystery to me, now I am a convert to it’s potential.

If you have a project and are looking for help in getting it funded--I specialize in education, environment, conservation and sustainable agriculture and enjoy working with teams to realize their dreams. Contact me if you would like me to help you with your project or program at colleen@naturetalks.net.

Aloha,

Colleen

Backyard Gardens

My friends will be happy to see that I now officially have a blog. Truth be told I really did not know what one was. As a gardener and director of NatureTalks I tend to spend as much time as I can outside and am slow to pick up on the new technology waves.

I want to use this space initially to share occasional stories about gardens and gardeners. I’ll start with my current garden, a modest 10 x 10 space that was co-created with my neighbors. I am always amazed at how much joy comes from growing food. This garden was planted on Valentines Day of this year (2008) and in just two months it is already overflowing with bumper crops of snow peas, kale, chard, beets, fennel, cilantro, leeks, lots of lettuce, purple mustard, and of course a few flowers.

The beauty and abundance of this small garden is truly amazing. I have much more than I can eat and am able to share with friends my favorite offering, fresh organic greens such as a multicolored chard bouquet.

Aloha,

Colleen