Early care and school gardens

Getting started

Follow these steps to start your garden planning. 

1. Identify a space

The facilities maintenance department will be able to assist you with identifying an outdoor space that is appropriate for a garden. The space will determine what type of garden you can create - in-ground, container, raised bed, or greenhouse. Also, consider how much sunlight the space will receive, access to a water source, and storage space for garden tools. 

2. Build your team

Involve parent volunteers, administration staff, teachers, food service department staff and student or youth groups. Consider including community groups and volunteers, such as a local 4-H program and Master Gardener Volunteers.

Consider the long term sustainability of your garden. Team members and their responsibilities will change over time. Some individuals may support the garden startup while others assist with yearlong maintenance. 

For all team members, set clear expectations for garden duties and realistic time expectations. 

Here are suggested activities when partnering with Extension groups.

• 4-H Club may be able to help maintain the garden if the youth activities are tied to a learning experience, leadership skills development or a community service and pride project. To find your local 4-H Club, contact your county Extension office.
• Master Gardener Volunteers can assist with garden site identification, design planning, crop selection, planting schedules, solving plant health problems, and teaching.  

3. Determine your goals

Set the purpose of your garden. Is the garden a space for children and students to explore food and nature, an opportunity to bring home fresh produce, serve the produce at mealtimes or in the school cafeteria for meals, or a combination of these? 

Food that is safely grown and harvested in a child care or school garden is an approved source for child care and the food service department. If the purpose is to offer the garden produce during school meals, ask the food service department about the types of crops they can easily wash, prepare and serve. 

Next, set specific goals. Below are examples:

• Part of the garden’s purpose is to provide young children with an opportunity to try new vegetables and fruits. A goal may be to grow three vegetables and do taste testings to introduce the foods and then add the vegetables to the menu.
• Part of the garden’s purpose is to provide fresh produce for school meals. A goal may be to offer the garden vegetables on the salad bar 3 times a week. This goal will guide your crop planning.
• Part of the garden’s purpose is to provide children and students with outdoor learning activities. A goal may be to use materials and a design that makes the garden physically accessible to all children and students. 

4. Set a budget and find funding

You may need to plan two budgets: one budget for the initial startup and a second budget for annual recurring expenses. Identify if labor to maintain the garden will be paid or volunteer-based.  

• Your Initial budget may include fencing, building materials, containers, garden tools, a storage shed or bin for the tools, seeds and plants, and signage.
• An annual budget should include seeds and plants, and funds for the replacement of equipment or supplies. 

Funding for your garden may come from the school district, PTA fundraisers, donations and gifts, or grants. Explore options such as The Jeffers Foundation and reach out to your local State Health Improvement Partnership coordinator. 

Planning, planting and caring for your garden

Next, you’ll need to prepare the soil, choose what to grow, order seeds, and plant! 

Review the following webpages for guidance on starting and maintaining a garden: 

• Planting the vegetable garden
• Raised bed gardens
• Planting and growing guides 

Connect with a Master Gardener Volunteer in your area for advice and help with planning, planting and caring for your garden. Contact your local Extension office or email the statewide Master Gardener team at [email protected]. 

Learning in the garden

• Minnesota Harvest of the Month features marketing materials, local food items, and recipes to help child care providers and food service staff use those products. There are educational resources for K-12 classrooms that can be used in early care and school settings.
• Real Life, Good Food has free healthy eating tips, physical activity ideas, and recipes. It contains suggestions on how to store and prepare different types of fresh produce.
• Rusty's Cooking Club is a free online cooking club for young children and their families and friends. Through simple recipes, children can explore foods, many of which are grown in the garden. Children can learn how foods are grown by watching the Rusty Explores videos, which follow foods from the farm to the table

Partner with Extension

For help with maintaining a school garden, contact your county Extension office to learn if a 4-H Club may be able to help maintain the garden if the youth activities are tied to a learning experience, leadership skills development, or a community service and pride project.

For assistance with garden site identification, design planning, crop selection, planting schedules, solving plant health problems, and teaching, contact your county Extension office or email the statewide Master Gardener team at [email protected].