Frequently Asked Questions
What is the California School Garden Network?
What is the value and purpose of school gardening projects?
Where can I find information about setting up a school garden?
How much does a school garden cost to create?
How can I get financial support and materials for a school garden?
Where can I get basic gardening information?
Where can I receive training related to school gardening?
How can I stay connected to the school garden movement in California?
What resources are available for those providing professional development support of garden-based learning programs?
What is the California School Garden Network?
CSGN is a 501c(3) whose members represent a variety of state agencies,
private companies, educational institutions and non-profit organizations
all dedicated to the mission of creating and sustaining gardens in
every willing school in California. The Network serves as a central
organization to distribute school garden information, resources and support throughout
the state.
CSGN's mission is to create and sustain California school gardens
to enhance academic achievement, a healthy lifestyle, environmental stewardship
and community and social development.
We achieve our mission by providing on our web site the most complete source of school gardening resources in the State, by creating publications for teachers and others working in school gardens, and by serving as a hub for the various organizations dedicated to supporting school gardens in California.
Learn more about CSGN and download a CSGN promotional flyer
Back to Top
What is the value and purpose of school gardening projects?
School Gardens can be used to enhance academic achievement, a healthy lifestyle, environmental stewardship, and community and social development. Visit our research section to see studies that show the value of school gardens.
Read more from CSGN’s publication Gardens for Learning: Creating and Sustaining Your School Garden, Chapter One, Introduction to School Gardens or request a copy of the entire book.
Back to Top
Where can I find information about setting up a school garden?
Starting and sustaining a school garden is not a simple task. Most successful school gardens across the state have one or more "garden champions" that help to keep the project rolling. Parent and community volunteers, dedicated teachers and administrators, paid garden coordinators, and motivated student groups can all serve the role of "garden champions". This website was created to help you start and sustain a school garden. There are many free resources in print and online to help you to plan your school garden program. Here are some of the best.
Print Resources:
- Gardens for Learning: Creating and Sustaining
Your School Garden. Available online or in
hard copy.
- California Department of Education School Garden Resource Packet: California teachers can request a free packet of garden startup information for California schools. This resource contains over ten items, including Life Lab Science Program's "Getting Started: A Guide for Creating School Gardens as Outdoor Classrooms." To receive your free copy, send your mailing address to gardengrantqa@cde.ca.gov
- Farming
is Food, Fiber, Flowers... and Fun!
A PDF workbook designed to walk you through the planning and implementation
process of establishing or enhancing a garden project.
Web Based Resources:
- The School Garden Wizard is a comprehensive online guide to help you make the case for your garden, plan for success, create the garden, learn in the garden and keep your garden growing.
- Plant a Seed Watch It Grow A great website on starting and sustaining a school garden created by the Master Gardener Association of San Diego
Human Resources:
CSGN's School Garden Planning and Design Links and Resources page lists more ideas.
Back to Top
How much does a school garden cost to create?
School gardens range from a few plantings to elaborate programs. Cost will depend on the scope of your program and if you choose to employ staff. Download this School Garden Materials and Resource Guide to help you create a budget of school garden program supplies.
Back to Top
How can I get financial support and materials for a school garden?
There is no “one way” to fund a school garden project. Most
schools rely on a combination of support such as: grants, donations,
parent/teacher organizations, and school budgets.
CSGN’s Grants and Fundraising
page and the “Finding Supplies and Funding
Your Garden”
chapter of CSGN’s Gardens for Learning lay out many strategies
that schools use to support their gardens.
CSGN's Finding Supplies and Funding Links and Resources page lists more ideas.
Back to Top
Where can I get basic gardening information?
California is comprised of almost every type of climatic zone on the
planet. When looking for gardening basics it is best to search locally.
Most counties in California have a Master Gardener program whose purpose
is to provide expert garden advice and support. Check www.mastergardeners.org to see if your county has a program and/or garden support hotline.
CSGN’s Regional Contacts and Training page list organizations
that provide support for school gardening.
CSGN's School Garden Planting Guide, pages 63-68, in Chapter 7 - Planting Your School Garden
This comprehensive guide includes suggested vegetables, herbs and flowers to plant in the fall and the spring. In addition the guide includes the following information: when to plant seeds indoors, when to plant outdoors (based on frost dates), depth to plant seed, spacing of plants, days to germination, days to harvest and nutrients content of vegetables. Find frost dates for California at the Victory Seeds Web site or contact your local Master Gardener.
More information on vegetable, flower and herb planting, care, and harvest can be found at:
- Organic Gardening.com: Get gardening tips, sign up for monthly garden reports for your area, and simplified information on the care and harvest of garden plants.
- National Gardening Association's Food Garden Guide: Detailed information on planting, care and harvesting of garden plants.
- National Gardening Association's Regional Reports: Get gardening information for your region, sign up for bimonthly gardening tips.
- Burpee.com: Great information on gardening and seed catalog; sign up for regional garden reports, visit their "library" for plant care and harvest information and visit their "nutrition guide" for vegetable nutrient content and garden kitchen tips.
- Bonnie Plants: Simple and concise information on growing common vegetables and herbs. This site also has tips for harvesting vegetables.
- Southern California month by month gardening tips
- More resources at CSGN's Planting and Maintaining Your School Garden Links and Resources page
There are many general gardening books to be found at your local book
sellers and used book stores.We suggest the Sunset Western Garden Book a great garden resource with thousands of plant descriptions and growing tips. Includes gardening instruction as well.
Remember gardening is a continual learning process….
Back to Top
Where can I receive training related to school gardening?
Those interested in working with school gardens can always benefit from a bit of guidance from individuals and/or organizations that are actively involved in supporting school gardens.
At CSGN's Event Calendar you can browse upcoming workshop opportunities.
CSGN's Regional Contacts and Training page lists organizations directly supporting school gardening, and many of them provide training.
The California Department of Education Nutrition Services Division supports three School Garden Regional Training Centers that offer free or low-cost workshops and/or conferences related to school gardening and garden-based nutrition.
Back to Top
How can I stay connected to the school garden movement in California?
- Join the California School Garden Network email list to receive updates (every two months) on funding sources, training opportunities, and additional support for school gardens.
- The Los Angeles UC Cooperative Extension Common Ground Garden Program provides email updates as well as gardening information for the Southern California area. Click on "Sign up to receive more free gardening information" to join their email list.
- The California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom's monthly e-newsletter is a great way to learn about grants, upcoming events, and programs related to Ag Literacy in California
- The National Gardening Association's Kids Garden News monthly e-newsletter supports educators with thematic and standards-based articles, activities, and resources to foster their efforts in implementing school gardens. You can also sign up to receive regional gardening updates and on-line store specials. Browse their past e-newsletters for many grant listings.
Back to Top
What resources are available for those providing professional development support of garden-based learning programs?
In some areas of the state organizations and individuals that support school gardens have created Regional Chapters to network and support school gardens in their area. View the CSGN Regional Chapter page to learn more.
The CSGN has downloadable promotional fliers in black and white and full color to distribute at your events.
Are you teaching others about school gardening? You might find the Creating and Sustaining Your School Garden Workshop Materials quite useful. They included a power point presentation on the "Power of School Gardens" as well as trainer outlines and handouts. Are you hosting a school garden related event? Be sure to post your event to the CSGN Event Calendar. Most events that are posted are included in our monthly newsletter.
Joining the CSGN to receive our monthly newsletter is one of the best ways to stay connected the California school garden movement.
Back to Top
|