Gardening
in Urban Schoolyards
School
gardens are an affordable and achievable way to give urban
children contact with nature, providing them with key developmental,
educational, and health benefits. This month, we discuss
how to overcome some of the challenges of gardening at
city schools, and provide related activities and a special
list of tips from NGA's urban gardening guru, William Moss.
Background and Lessons
Planning
Urban School Gardens – This overview discusses design
options and special considerations for urban sites, and
provides links to loads of resources.
Ten
Tips for Urban Schoolyards – NGA's urban gardening
guru, educator William Moss of Chicago, shares what's worked
best in his experience.
Activity:
Cylinder Gardening – This is an inexpensive and practical
way to incorporate gardens in urban settings. It requires
no prior gardening experience and little preparation.
Lesson:
Urban Weather Investigations – City landscapes experience
extreme consequences of weather, such as the heat island
effect and excessive stormwater runoff. In this lesson,
students will investigate urban temperature and rain patterns.
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© 2009
National Gardening Association