Children and Nature Network says it best: “Spending time in nature enhances educational outcomes by improving children’s academic performance, focus, behavior and love of learning.” This info-graphic includes references to research that shows the positive impacts of using school gardens and other natural learning environments as teaching tools
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DeKalb County has an excellent climate for nearly year-round gardening, and school gardens can help build school community and encourage students (and teachers!) to eat fresh fruits and vegetables. School gardens also provide habitat for critical pollinator species like Monarch butterflies and native bees.
Finally, a school garden is an outdoor laboratory, providing curricular connections to all subjects and opportunities for experimentation and STEAM projects. School gardens bring learning to life.
School Master Gardener: The program is on hold due to COVID. Applications will re-open in Spring 2022.
The School Garden Professional Learning Series is on hold until the science center reopens and we can return to face to face.
Short How-to Garden Videos From FSC
Seasonal Plant Sales: Check back for updates in February.
Starts for Schools: With support Warren Tech HS Vocational Horticulture students, Fernbank makes veggie starts available for DeKalb school gardens and classroom projects at our cost to produce them. For more information or to order starts, click here.
National School Garden Support Organization
Georgia Organics Farm to School (scroll down to see past Farm to School webinars)
Environmental Education in Georgia: professional certifications and annual conferences in outdoor learning
UGA DeKalb County Extension publications and classes: Check here for soil testing information and seasonal gardening classes as well as gardening publications
The following list is not exhaustive; please let us know who is missing! In addition, many schools develop partnerships with local scouting and other civic organizations, businesses, and institutions in support of their outdoor education programs. See the In the News section for great ideas on community partnerships for DeKalb school gardens.
Captain Planet Foundation: Captain Planet Foundation’s Project Learning Garden competitive grant is available annually to a limited number of DeKalb elementary and middle schools, check website for annual grant timelines. Additionally, CPF provides professional learning in 3D schoolyard science through the CPF Institute, and K-8 garden-based curriculum freely accessible through Project Learning Garden. CPF has provided summer garden maintenance interns for DeKalb Schools.
DeKalb County Conservation District: The Dekalb County Conservation District promotes soil & water stewardship throughout local schools and to landowners in Dekalb County. Program Assistant Tixie Fowler connects schools to experts in the field to support aquaponics, greenhouses, and other garden-related school-based activities. Excellent resource for technical support.
Georgia Organics: Georgia Organic’s Farm to School program provides on-line resources for schools as well as fee-for-service professional development in school garden and nutrition topics. As a Golden Radish Award-winning district, DCSD is eligible for workshop scholarships.
Green Gardens Education and Designs helps forward thinking, health conscious people who are interested in how to best utilize their land. We give them the confidence and direction to develop their property into a beautiful, low maintenance yard that can provide nutrient dense food, wildlife habitat and a deep connection to nature.
Out Teach: Out Teach partners with districts and schools to create effective professional development programs and rich outdoor learning environments that teachers need to unlock student performance with the power of experiential learning outdoors. Out Teach empowers teachers to get outside—beyond the classroom—to create unforgettable learning experiences and measurable academic results.
Partners for Action in Healthy Living: PAHL supports school gardens in SW DeKalb as part of its overall mission to “empower and educate individuals through gardening and urban agriculture, connecting people to the land, to their food and most importantly, to each other.” PAHL provides grants and hands-on technical and educational support for school gardens.
Wylde Center: Wylde Center implemented a grant to plant school fruit tree orchards in the South River watershed and also offers a menu of fee-for-service school garden coach services throughout the county.
Aug 4 2020: School Gardens are Feeding Families AJC (several DeKalb schools with Captain Planet Foundation)
July 27 2020: Project Giving Gardens helping curb food scarcity for metro-Atlanta schools CBS Channel 46 (several DeKalb schools with Captain Planet Foundation)
Jun 30 2020: Atlanta food project helps feed local students and families DeKalb Neighbor (Sagamore Hills ES)
Jun 26 2020: Marbut Principal, Teachers Take On Student Garden During Pandemic Patch (Marbut ES)
Oct 16 2018: 84 Georgia School Districts Recognized for Farm to School Innovation at 2018 Golden Radish Awards (DeKalb receives Gold Level) AllOnGeorgia
Sept 27 2018: Volunteers build community garden at Stone Mountain High School On Common Ground News
Aug 25 2018: Sagamore Hills STEM teacher Stephanie Spencer in the AJC
July 20 2018: Eldridge E Miller Gets Outdoor Classroom and Greenhouse, The DeKalb Free Press
April 6 2018: Students Planting Orchards at Lithonia Schools, Crossroads News
Wadsworth STEM Garden, DCSD Trusted News
Nov 25 2016: DeKalb Gets Golden Radish Award for Farm to School, Crossroads News
Sept 14, 2014 Druid Hills HS Eagle Scout Builds Garden Beds, Crossroads News
April 12, 2013 Toney Elementary Student Starts a Garden, Crossroads News