School garden sustainability : major challenges to the long-term maintenance and success of school garden programs
Date
2012
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Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
School gardens in the U.S. have experienced several periods of popularity over the past century. Each period has emphasized different ways in which such gardens could help address some of the social and public health issues of the day, in addition to meeting educational goals. Today, school gardens are receiving renewed attention and enthusiasm as a potential solution for childhood obesity and the growing disconnect between children and nature. They are also still considered a viable method to increase academic achievement through experiential learning. The increasing popularity of school gardens has corresponded with a growing number of school gardens that have been unable to take root, despite enthusiastic beginnings. This research examined common challenges to the long-term maintenance of these programs, including funding, personnel stability, community buy-in, planning and teacher preparation, and garden maintenance issues. In addition, this research sought feedback from former school gardens in order to investigate the most common reasons for their discontinuation. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected using an online survey distributed through the National Gardening Associationyouth educators’ listserv. A total of 1,301 responses were analyzed, including 1,166 from participants involved in current school garden programs, and 135 from participants responding on behalf of discontinued school garden programs. Both groups highlighted a similar range of challenges, including funding, maintenance difficulties, and dependence on untrained teachers who are frequently subject to changing employment conditions. In order for school gardens to become a permanent component of their schools, those who are currently involved in school gardening and those who wish to start (or restart) a school garden need to consider the common pitfalls and be prepared to address them through careful planning and by securing broad-based support.