In the handbook, Adema endorsed the importance of gardening at school with the following text: “School is very important for children to learn about healthy and sustainable food. If they can also get their hands into the soil of a school garden, that is not only fun, it also genuinely helps them learn at an early age how we grow our food and that we need to handle our food consciously.”
The power of collaboration
During the presentation, Rob Baan (owner of Koppert Cress), Hak van Nispen (director of the GDO/SME association) and Jan Dijstelbloem (director of IVN Nature Education) spoke with the minister about the collaboration within the Alliance, which creates the capacity to put its mission of giving every child access to a school garden into practice. LNV has been an important supporting partner in making this possible. The hope was expressed that they will also continue to do so in the future.
The School Gardens Handbook is a practical example of what collaboration between all these parties can achieve. In addition to gathering existing knowledge, the Alliance also makes it possible to make this knowledge accessible so that local implementers can get to work.
The book has seven chapters:
1 A school garden for every child – The social and educational importance of the school garden
2 A new school garden – Initiative, project plan, stakeholders and support
3 Design and organisation of the school garden – From creating the school garden to a complete action plan
4 School garden crops – Choosing crops for your school garden, growing instructions and tips
5 Getting to work in the school garden – Everyday practice of sowing, soil care, tasks and harvesting
6 The school garden as a learning environment – Learning to garden and applying mathematics, language and history in practice
7 School garden models – Selection guide and step-by-step plan for the mixed school garden and the crop-rotation school garden
The authors are Annerie Rutenfrans, Marieke Dekker and Inge Buntinx.
Free online version
The School Gardens Handbook is a very comprehensive handbook covering everything involved in gardening at school, from organisation, creation and maintenance to education. This book brings together and documents many years of knowledge and experience from school garden practice. It is free for everyone to download. You can purchase the printed version here.
Photo caption: Minister Piet Adema receives the first copy of the School Gardens Handbook.