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First school garden created according to the IVN School Garden Approach

Published Apr 11, 2025

On 22 March, the Oosterwoldschool Sofia in Almere got their hands in the soil. Together with parents and teachers, work began on creating a school garden. It is the first school garden to be created according to the new IVN School Garden Approach. This approach helps not only with creating a school garden, but also with its management and educational use. To ensure that the programme meets the needs and working methods of primary schools, the approach is being tested at several schools during this school garden season. And the first test garden is now a reality.

First school garden created according to the IVN School Garden Approach

The IVN School Garden Approach is ideal for schools that would like to have a vegetable garden but find it difficult to actually get one started. “The school vegetable garden is something we have wanted for a long time, but until now it was too complex to tackle. A garden fits well within the school’s educational concept. We want children to grow up connected to their surroundings. And the connection with the food we eat is absolutely part of that.” So says Iris van Vulpen, the green teacher at Oosterwoldschool Sofia.

Harvesting from duo gardens

The school garden has several growing beds measuring 0.60 x 1.75 m, where two children per bed will grow crops throughout an entire season according to a set plan. In this duo garden, they learn to work together with nature and with each other. Iris explains: “The garden has been created, and on Wednesday we even held the first lesson with the class. The children were immediately extremely engaged and asked good questions.” They experience the school garden with all their senses throughout the season and work towards several harvest moments. At the end of the school year, they can enjoy their own homemade salad, and in October pumpkin soup will be on the menu.

A piece of cake

The IVN School Garden Approach therefore consists not only of a series of lessons, but also offers a complete manual with a sample design and an extensive materials list. Schools can choose to order the materials themselves, but it is also possible to have Ecotuintje easily deliver a complete package, allowing a fully equipped school garden to be created in a single day. This turned out not to be complicated.

“Creating the vegetable garden went much faster than expected. We scheduled a Saturday on which several parents, children and a teacher with her partner came to help. We gathered at the site at 10 a.m. and, after a short briefing, we all got to work. Around noon, we shared a potluck-style meal, and by 3 p.m. we had a beautiful vegetable garden, proud builders and plenty of enthusiasm to start the lessons!” says Iris.

The lesson series will be refined based on the pilots, but the manual can already be requested.

First school garden created according to the IVN School Garden Approach

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