The garden-based lessons that follow range from harvesting and cover crop sowing to seed starting and worm composting. They feature well known books, including The Honeybee Man by Lela Nargi and Compost Stew: An A to Z Recipe for the Earth by Mary McKenna Siddals, and include healthy recipes to help reinforce the concepts introduced. Use the whole curriculum throughout the year or pick and choose what fits into your existing curriculum. The possibilities to learn and have fun in the garden are endless!
While the Garden Calendar lessons found here were created based on the growing calendar for Zone 7, they can be mixed and matched to apply to any growing calendar in the country.
Educators can choose to teach these lessons throughout the year in order, or one at a time where they best fit into an existing classroom curriculum and schedule. While we realize that not every school will have a full garden or kitchen, we encourage educators to be creative, think outside of the box, and try to mold each lesson to your specific needs and environment. These lessons should not be thought of as permanent and unchangeable but rather as templates for you to evolve, modify, and develop into what works best for you and your students, wherever you are.
Harvesting
- Introduction to the Garden Behavior & Rules
- Read: We Gather Together: Celebrating the Harvest Season by Wendy Pfeffer
Seed Saving
- Introduction to Seed Saving Basil, Tomatoes & Peppers
- Art Project: DIY Seed Packets
Putting the Garden to Bed
- Part I: Introduction to Cover Crops & Kitchen Activity: Buckwheat Bread
- Part II: Bed Clearing & Cover Crop Sowing
Worm Bins
- Introduction to Worm Bins & Making a Classroom Worm Bin
- Kitchen Activity: “Worm Bin” Cups
Garden Planning & Seed Starting
- Introduction to Seed Starting
- Seed Catalog Scavenger Hunt
Pollinators
Composting & Bed Preparation
- Part I: Introduction to Compost & Read: Compost Stew: An A to Z Recipe for the Earth by Mary McKenna Siddals
- Part II: Double Digging Compost into Beds
Companion Planting & Square Foot Gardening
Direct Sowing and Planting Transplants
- How to Read a Seed Packet
- Direct Sowing and Planting Transplants
