Why Schools Should Start Community Gardens

Photo by Pexel                                                                                              

By: Amanda R.

Community gardens are a great way for students to engage in STEM activities like learning about agriculture, the environment, and nutrition, while also creating a sense of community! Did you know that North Dakota is the number one state in America for most community gardens? In fact, there is approximately one community garden for every 23,000 people in North Dakota! Meanwhile, Texas ranks 41 out of the 50 U.S. states. According to Porch, approximately there is one community garden for every 400,000 Texans. As statistics have shown, Texas needs more community gardens! Here are three reasons why every school in Texas should consider creating a community garden!

Hands-On STEM Opportunity 

As the warm weather starts to quickly approach Texas, schools should take advantage of any outside learning opportunities. A community garden does just that! Instead of having students learn about agriculture and the environment just through textbooks, they will have the opportunity to get physically involved with agriculture and the environment. They will learn about soil composition, plants’ life phases, irrigation, etc. Students will also learn about sustainability and how to care for our Earth, which is another science profession on its own! Students will be able to comprehend agriculture and nature even more with the help of a community garden on their campuses.

Promotes Healthy Eating 

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, only 50 percent of U.S. school districts require nutrition education for kindergarten through eighth-grade students. The number declines for students in middle school and high school. Since they are a significant amount of Texas students who are unable to obtain a nutrition education, a community garden would be an excellent way to educate and promote healthy eating. Students will have the opportunity to grow fruit and vegetables, learn about their nutrition, and begin to develop healthy eating habits. Students will be more inclined to learn more about agriculture and nutrition as they start and observe the process of growing their own food.

Creates Communities 

Another benefit of a community garden is that It can serve as a focal point for the community! Incorporating a community garden onto a school campus can not only serves students but also teachers, staff, and parents. Learning has no age limit and a community garden can be beneficial to so many people in the community. Those who participate in the garden will form relationships and connections with those who are interested in this amazing learning opportunity. Having a community garden can open the door to an outside community! A community garden can go beyond the school district. School districts can ask local farmers and gardeners to join in on the fun and teach students about their professions and the science behind them.

There are so many benefits that a community garden brings! From learning about agriculture through hands-on activity to creating another sense of community on campus, a community garden can be a valuable addition to any school district.

For more information on how to ask your school district for a community garden, click here.

Edited By: Emily W.