Growing Together: Open Forum

School gardens thrive when a community works together. Growing and cultivating your community will lead to a sustainable program that lasts for years to come. When you are reflecting on your school garden program, take a look at the ways that your community is engaged. Readjust if needed and celebrate the support that you are receiving. It definitely takes a village to grow this movement.

You grow quickly if you go it alone. You grow strong roots if you grow together. Cultivating school garden community counts!

An incredible amount of work goes into growing a school garden program.

It takes time.

It takes perseverance.

It takes a lot of energy.

It takes trust.

It takes collaboration.

It takes networking.

It takes organization.

It takes love.

A school garden provides a space for everyone to belong. For many kids it is a place where they can shine, and for some parents it's a place where they fit in, feel comfortable and get engaged. Like a cherished friendship, your community grows beautifully when deeply woven into your school garden program.

In the early days of farming in America, when you needed a barn raised, it became a community event. People of all ages gathered together to build, cook meals, support and lend a hand. It built pride in community and the fabric of America. Your school garden culture can be built and designed in this very same way. 

Look around, shake the trees, connect and reach out to your teachers, student groups, organizations, parents, and community. You will find a mighty group of garden warriors. They will lend their hands for most of what you need. From physical labor, to in-kind donations, to sharing knowledge, the support that is needed is endless and available if you work on building the community. The seeds that you plant in your school garden grow connections that touches the hearts and minds of everyone who gets involved. You never know what impact is possible, until you start to grow your community. It is an amazing journey with beautiful results.

Consider other garden educators in your community, region or state. Follow school garden social media channels. Share your successes and ask for help with challenges that come your way. Engage with the community that we are cultivating with the Kids Garden Community! Build your community and grow your school garden army. We are so much stronger together.

We have the capacity to create change. We change landscapes in schoolyards, but we also grow positive change in the community and in the hearts and minds of children. Our future looks bright. 

We would love to hear how you grow community in your school gardens. Share your story with us. Community Counts!