School Gardens and Native Plants

In 1995, the California Department of Education launched “A Garden in Every School” initiative to promote education in fields as varied as nutrition, health, science, math, reading, and environmental studies. All these disciplines can be integrated in a school garden setting to teach students new skills and to enhance their ability to observe and think. A school garden helps students gain an understanding of natural systems through firsthand experience. School gardens foster community spirit by bringing students, school staff, families, local businesses, and organizations together.

The California Native Plant Society promotes the inclusion of native plants in every school garden. Native plants help students learn the vital connection between plants and higher forms of life. Plants are at the bottom of the food chain, and native plants are a primary component of healthy ecosystems. Just as edible plants are important for human health and survival, native plants are equally necessary to other forms of life. Native plants help pollinator populations survive and thrive, which in turn help pollinate edible crops.

Some ideas for incorporating native plants in school gardens:

• Pollinator Garden
• Butterfly Garden
• Bird-friendly Garden
• Hummingbird Garden
• Ethnobotanical Garden
• Habitat Garden

In addition, native plants can be a part of the following types of gardens:

• Alphabet Garden
• Cut Flower Garden
• Multicultural Garden
• Year-round Flowering Garden

Before starting a school native plant garden, it is important to analyze site characteristics (soil, exposure, grade, existing hardscape, precipitation, etc.) and choose appropriate locally native plants. This will maximize chances for success while minimizing the inputs and efforts required. See Betsey Landis’s Native Plant Gardens for Schools and Urban Areas: A Survival Guide for information about how to assess your site and choose appropriate plants, a glossary of native plant communities, and other helpful information.

Publications

• Southern California Native Plants for School Gardens, Betsey Landis, CNPS Press
• Native Plant Gardens for Schools and Urban Areas: A Survival Guide, Betsey Landis
• Discover California Shrubs, Mary Ruth Casebeer
• Discover California Wildflowers, Mary Ruth Casebeer

Organizations

• Getting Going Growing, a project of Conexions, an organization that assists schools in establishing a school garden.
• California School Garden Network
• Return of the Natives, a restoration education project of CSU Monterey Bay
• Kids in Creeks education program of The Watershed Project

Grant Programs & Resources:

• California School Garden Network list of funding organizations
  
• Grant Applications – Some Advice, Betsey Landis
• Keep San Jose Beautiful gives grants of up to $2000 towards beautification of public spaces in San Jose, including school gardens in public schools. 1601 Foxworthy Avenue, San Jose.
• Los Angeles/Santa Monica Mountains native plant gardening page
• Orange County Chapter awards Acorn grants ($150) and Horticultural grants ($500) that may be used to support work related to school gardens.
• Sacramento Valley Chapter’s “Kids in Native Gardens” program awards $100 to school children of any grade level.
• Shasta Chapter gives Acorn Grants to students in grades K through 12.
• Santa Clara Valley Chapter’s School Gardens page
• San Diego Chapter's School Garden Program
• US Fish and Wildlife Service Schoolyard Habitat Program

Information contributed by:
Arvind Kumar, Santa Clara Valley Chapter