School Gardens

Using Gardens to Grow Healthy Habits in Cafeterias, Classrooms, and Communities

Using Gardens to Grow Healthy Habits in the Cafeteria, Classroom, and Community

School gardens are a key part of Oklahoma’s Farm to School program, offering numerous educational opportunities. They serve as living laboratories for subjects like agriculture, nutrition, and more. From indoor herb gardens to outdoor farms, school gardens are a creative educational tool that connects hands-on activities with classroom lessons. They foster student engagement through real-life experiences, encouraging exploration, experimentation, and sensory learning. School gardens promote healthy eating, understanding ecosystems, and an appreciation for food origins, all while enhancing academic achievement and offering valuable learning outside the classroom.

Schools with Edible School Gardens

School gardens are becoming a popular outdoor extension of the classroom.

Check out how schools in Oklahoma utilized their school gardens during the 2023-2024 school year.

Use garden in school curriculum 70% 70%
Use garden in taste tests or cooking demonstration 46% 46%
Sent garden harvest home with students 35% 35%
Served garden harvest as part of education activities 39% 39%
Donate or sell garden harvest to outside entities 11% 11%

Join the NEW Farm to School Garden Crew

The Farm to School Garden Crew is a fun and free program designed to support and celebrate school gardens across Oklahoma. This crew brings together a statewide network of educators, students, and school communities to learn, grow, and thrive through gardening.

Whether you’re brand new to gardening or already growing strong, the Garden Crew is here to help your school succeed.

Join the Garden Crew

This Giving Tuesday, Give the Gift of Gardening!

Schools across Oklahoma have the opportunity to share the garden supplies they need to start, maintain, or expand their school gardens. Community members, businesses, producers, and organizations can then choose a participating school and donate items directly from its Garden Wish List.

Whether you represent a school looking for support or a community member ready to give back, you can help us give the gift of gardening this Giving Tuesday.

Learn More & How to Participate

Getting Started with the School Garden Quick Start Guide

School gardens provide students with a fun, hands-on learning experience, offering benefits such as improved academic achievement, stronger teacher-student relationships, and enhanced psychosocial development. They promote healthy eating, spark curiosity, introduce science and STEM concepts, and foster responsibility. Gardens also encourage physical activity and create an engaging environment that motivates students to explore.

This School Garden Quick Start Guide offers step-by-step instructions for creating and maintaining edible garden spaces, along with essential growing practices. It also includes tips for schools looking to start or improve their garden programs.

Starting a school garden can feel overwhelming, but this guide is here to help educators integrate gardens into the curriculum and enhance existing programs. Download your digital copy or request a printed version today!

Digital Download

Request a Free Hard Copy

School Garden Layout & Structure

The garden design should be practical, functional, and fun! A school garden can range from a few containers in a classroom or patio to a large 10-bed vegetable garden on the playground. Consider the size of your space, existing features, soil quality, sunlight, water sources, drainage, safety, and plant selection.

While it’s important to dream big, stay practical—small gardens can offer just as much educational value as larger ones and can make getting started less overwhelming. Take it slow and don’t get discouraged. Always remember there is no standard size for a garden. Try new plants, techniques, and approaches. Mistakes provide valuable learning opportunities. If something doesn’t go as planned, ask students what they think went wrong and what they could change for next time. After all, it’s THEIR garden.

Indoor

If you’re starting small or lack access to outdoor space, an indoor garden is a great option! Indoor gardening is a simple and manageable way to grow plants in your classroom while offering hands-on learning
opportunities.

Plants that produce food generally need bright light to thrive, and a windowsill may not provide enough. Use long grow lights (LED shop lights work) and position them just a few inches above seeds, and no more than 12 inches above larger plants. As the plants grow, gradually raise the lights. Keeping the light close helps prevent etiolation, where plants stretch and grow sideways in search of light. Many garden plants can be started indoors and later transplanted as seedlings to an outdoor garden.

Outdoor

When planning an outdoor garden, the garden committee should decide on the type of growing space structure to use. There are three main options (or combinations of these) to choose from:

Container Gardens: Ideal for smaller spaces or mobility, containers can hold plants like herbs, flowers, and vegetables.

Raised Beds: Elevated garden beds improve soil drainage and make gardening easier by reducing bending and reaching.

In-Ground Gardens: Traditional garden beds are directly in the soil, requiring proper soil preparation and maintenance.

Each option offers distinct benefits depending on available space, resources, and garden goals.

Let's Get Growing

The goal is for students to eat what they grow, so it’s a great opportunity to introduce them to new flavors. Try expanding their palates with options like beets, beans, rutabagas, mixed greens, or other “exotic” choices, or stick with familiar favorites like carrots, lettuce, and tomatoes. It’s also important to ask the students if there are specific plants they’re interested in growing. When they have a say in what’s planted, they’re more likely to feel invested in the garden and excited about the harvest.

Themed Beds

Theme beds can be a fun and creative way to organize your garden. They can include plants that fit a specific recipe or they can focus on plants with a common trait. The possibilities are endless! Whatever theme you choose, it’s a great way to make your garden both functional and visually interesting.

What’s in Season?

Different plants thrive in various weather conditions—some prefer heat, while others do better in cooler temperatures. Additionally, some grow quickly, while others take longer to mature. Be mindful of the school calendar to ensure crops can be harvested while students are still at school.

Helpful Resources

Educational Resources:

OSU Extension Factsheets:

Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service fact sheets and other publications provide research-based information on a wide variety of topics. Explore the topics below to help create a lasting and thriving school garden.