Having a school garden is hugely beneficial to any education program. Gardens in the High School are particularly important. Gardens in high school can be worked into several classes and curricula. The main classes they can benefit are science classes, health classes, and nutrition classes. Many of those who operate gardens in the high school don’t consider some of the extended opportunities that such a school garden can offer.

Gardens in the high school can be utilized greatly for home economics classes and any classes where the students learn to cook. Clearly, a high school garden is one of the best sources of the most nutritious produce.

One option is to teach business classes involving the garden where students sell the produce. That way they can learn how to market the vegetables, calculate the expenses and profits and have real world experience running a business. Also, a school could have paid or unpaid interns or give students jobs to manage the garden and the produce stand over the summer when school is usually out. This can create a rewarding job for a few industrious students. If the parents of the high school students all know about the produce stand then they become a great customer base for the stand. In turn, it makes students, parents, teachers, staff, and the community a little more aware of where their food comes from and it makes everyone think a little more about what they eat.

Another great opportunity is for students to build winterization structures for the gardens at their high school. One way to do this is to have a greenhouse building contest. There are many ways to build a small greenhouse that works that students can handle. Instead of building full blown greenhouses, students could easily design and build hoop houses for their high school gardens.

If students use a myGroFarm Deluxe in addition to their gardens at high school that offers many other great options. Students could garden all winter in a classroom with a grow light and a myGroFarm Deluxe. Students could raise seedlings starting in January indoors either to use outside in their high school garden or even sell seedlings later on to those in the community.

If a school is interested in myGroFarm Deluxes we do offer significant discounts to the educational sector. Please contact us at info@mygrofarm.com or call 443-694-3618 for special programs and pricing.

Another resource for gardens in the high school curriculum ideas is at national environmental education week.