Growing Together: Open Forum

Hi Kids Gardening Community! 
After four years of educational gardening in an elementary school, I have the opportunity to start up another gardening program at a new elementary school that is currently being built and expected to open this fall! I'm am so excited to expand the program and reach more students. The challenge is… the garden will be located in an interior courtyard that is being built on the second floor. So it's open to the sky, but will be a concrete floor. Has anyone done this? I can do raised beds on legs but that's always difficult with the varying heights of kids in grades K-5. I currently use Vego beds and would like to continue with them, but I'm not sure what I can put underneath the beds and soil. I also worry that the space will not feel like nature and will be too sterile. I need to think of ways to incorporate natural elements to help soften the area. I would love to hear from anyone who has set up a gardening space on concrete. Thank you!

Hi Kids Gardening Community! 
After four years of educational gardening in an elementary school, I have the opportunity to start up another gardening program at a new elementary school that is currently being built and expected to open this fall! I'm am so excited to expand the program and reach more students. The challenge is… the garden will be located in an interior courtyard that is being built on the second floor. So it's open to the sky, but will be a concrete floor. Has anyone done this? I can do raised beds on legs but that's always difficult with the varying heights of kids in grades K-5. I currently use Vego beds and would like to continue with them, but I'm not sure what I can put underneath the beds and soil. I also worry that the space will not feel like nature and will be too sterile. I need to think of ways to incorporate natural elements to help soften the area. I would love to hear from anyone who has set up a gardening space on concrete. Thank you!

Hi Kids Gardening Community! 
After four years of educational gardening in an elementary school, I have the opportunity to start up another gardening program at a new elementary school that is currently being built and expected to open this fall! I'm am so excited to expand the program and reach more students. The challenge is… the garden will be located in an interior courtyard that is being built on the second floor. So it's open to the sky, but will be a concrete floor. Has anyone done this? I can do raised beds on legs but that's always difficult with the varying heights of kids in grades K-5. I currently use Vego beds and would like to continue with them, but I'm not sure what I can put underneath the beds and soil. I also worry that the space will not feel like nature and will be too sterile. I need to think of ways to incorporate natural elements to help soften the area. I would love to hear from anyone who has set up a gardening space on concrete. Thank you!