School Gardening Education for Fifteen Primary Schools in Schouwen-Duiveland

Within three years, a green schoolyard and the opportunity to garden for all primary school pupils. That is our dream, Janneke told the School Gardens Alliance in April 2024. And it looks as though they will achieve this on Schouwen-Duiveland.

Successful pilot

A pilot project started in January with four schools, and it is now being evaluated. At the School Gardens Alliance, we are naturally extremely curious! Janneke can already reveal that the results are positive. “At one of the pilot schools, one of the teachers initially responded with moderate enthusiasm. We only found out in October 2023 that we would be starting in February 2024 – halfway through an ongoing school year – with creating a school garden and giving vegetable gardening lessons. Fortunately, the teacher is very enthusiastic about this first year. The children loved it and were always eager to garden, come rain or shine. Pupils who normally struggle to sit still for long and maintain their attention really come alive in the garden.” Of the 21 primary schools on the island, no fewer than 15 schools will have the opportunity to take part in school gardening next school year. If they wish, the remaining schools will hopefully follow the year after.

Working together

“It required a lot of perseverance,” says Janneke. The entire pilot project began at the end of 2021 by forming a core group consisting of Janneke, an IVN employee, a municipal policy officer, a local beekeeper and a project manager from the schools. The thorough approach paid off: in autumn 2023, the municipal council approved the proposal, making a large part of the budget available. In January, the pilot started at three schools in Bruinisse and one in Zierikzee.
Janneke contacted Stichting Natuurstad Rotterdam, because they already had extensive experience with school gardening. She received a great deal of advice and was able to take over Natuurstad’s school gardening lesson package, growing plan, timetable and other materials for a fee. Why reinvent the wheel? That is often not necessary at all.”

Incorporating it into the curriculum

The idea is that the participating schools will receive (financial) support for three years, including in the form of vegetable garden coaches, educational resources, and seeds and seedlings. After those three years, the intention is for the schools to continue the school gardening programme independently. Schools can then provide their own vegetable gardening lessons or hire the vegetable garden coach from NME SD. “In my view, it is particularly important that school gardening lessons are included in the standard curriculum,” Janneke continues. “So they should no longer be an enjoyable extra or something offered when there happens to be time for it, but standard, integrated school gardening lessons within the school’s programme. Securing this continuity is important, because over the years we have seen many school gardens appear and, unfortunately, disappear again. When that one enthusiastic teacher or volunteer leaves or becomes ill, school gardening often collapses like a house of cards.”

Start preparing now

In addition to working together and incorporating the lessons into the curriculum, Janneke’s tip is to start preparing now (in October/November), especially if you still have to create the garden. “You need to consider where to build the school garden, what the soil quality is like, a design needs to be created, the garden needs to be constructed, and you need tools, plants and seeds, a growing plan and, of course, a budget. And then you still have to organise the educational programme.” You really do need that time for your preparations. Naturally, it depends on the size of the school garden and your ambitions, but do not wait too long.

A grade for school gardening?

The fact that Janneke’s dream now seems to be coming true does not mean she has stopped dreaming. “How wonderful would it be if, in the future, your report card included not only a grade for maths and language, but also one for school gardening? I would find that absolutely fantastic!”

Photos: Sanne van der Most.

Source: School Gardens Alliance.