From School to Garden - A Guide to Educational Gardening in Schools

Divided into two parts – the theory side and the practice side – this guide offers a wealth of advice on horticulture and pedagogy, as well as management and planning. Richly illustrated, it will appeal to school staff, early childhood educators, community organizers, and parents alike, regardless of the available garden space. Brilliantly demonstrating the many benefits of gardening in schools, this essential work, inspired by Jean-Martin Fortier's *The Market Gardener *, is undoubtedly part of this ongoing agricultural revolution.

Preface by Éric Duchemin

What if changing our relationship with food started at a young age, at school, with our hands in the soil? Karine Lévesque firmly believes that educational gardening can help us address some of the challenges associated with education, the environment, and agriculture. A teacher of 15- to 21-year-olds in Montreal, she developed an innovative educational garden project with her students, which is now inspiring many schools and demonstrating the importance of building bridges between schools and the community.

Hoping to equip teachers who wish to embark on such an adventure, the author gathers here all the relevant information to start an educational garden and ensure its success. What to grow, when to start sowing, and what to do with the harvest? How to prepare the plot? Should you grow in the ground or in containers? What educational objectives can be achieved? What resources are available to help? How to develop connections with the community? How to lead a field trip? How to combine gardening with the requirements of various training programs? How to manage your time according to the school calendar? Karine Lévesque generously answers all these questions.

Divided into two parts – the theory side and the practice side – this guide offers a wealth of advice on horticulture and pedagogy, as well as management and planning. Richly illustrated, it will appeal to school staff, early childhood educators, community organizers, and parents alike, regardless of the available garden space. Brilliantly demonstrating the many benefits of gardening in schools, this essential work, inspired by Jean-Martin Fortier's *The Market Gardener *, is undoubtedly part of this ongoing agricultural revolution.

“The educational garden movement is certainly still in its infancy, but it is growing rapidly. And the book you hold in your hands will be one of the catalysts for it in the coming years. […] Drawing on her experience as a teacher, but also as the founder of the educational garden Les Jardins des Patriotes, Karine Lévesque generously shares the knowledge she has gained in the field and through the training she provides.”

Author: Karine Lévesque
Publication date: September 2018
Publisher: Ecosociété
Pages: 252 pages
Subject: Gardening and vegetable garden
ISBN: 9782897194505