Elementary School Garden Project
This past week I have been busy working on what for me will be a new type of project: a collaborative garden design for/with/at a public elementary school. The powers that be decided "A Garden" is to be made with/by fourth and fifth grade students (ages 9 to 12) as part of an after school enrichment program. Since this is a new program and in fact a new school, and since I have never attempted a group design project before (let alone with a bunch of energetic kids), it is very exciting!
If you have worked on an ambitious project like this and have any helpful hints or words of wisdom, tell us about it! If you too are looking at a similar type of project, perhaps you will find my outline helpful in working up your own plans.
Here is the gist of the proposal I came up with:
Gardening Instructor: Barbara Martin
I telecommute as a professional horticulturist with the National Gardening Association and work locally as a professional garden designer specializing in herb and perennial gardens. I produce an internet site devoted to gardening and write a weekly internet column on gardening; I teach adult gardening classes and do presentations for nurseries and garden clubs. I have roughly twenty years of practical experience in all aspects of gardening as well as some formal training through the USDA Graduate School and the National Arboretum besides many non-credit seminars, courses and classes. Finally, being a scout leader for several years has given me some experience in working on group projects with school age children. My daughter is in the fourth grade at the school.
Proposed Gardening Overview
Enclosed is an outline of the sequential process we need to follow to produce a good workable design and successful garden. The group's interests will determine how much time we spend on each step. This is a wonderful opportunity for the students to be creative and build many skills while working on all phases of the project. It should also be a tremendous amount of fun.
