Growing Schools

Growing Communities collaborates with students and Staff to develop whole-school planning and learning experiences based around sustainable gardens and gardening. Here's how we can help you

Concurrent with the national and international drive towards sustainable schooling, Growing Communities considers the school garden to be an essential tool for developing transformative, participative, holistic and sustainable practices. Adopting a whole-school approach to learning in, about and for the environment ensures that the garden constitutes a dynamic, integral and sustainable component of all parts of the school system: the way in which the school is organised and operates, the design of its natural and built environments, its management of resources, and the orientation of the curriculum.

Gardening in schools enhances students’ learning experiences by:

Empowering them to take the initiative and responsibility for social and environmental change

Developing knowledge and understanding of food and nutrition

Using innovative, authentic and meaningful teaching and assessment strategies

Catering for the different needs and abilities of learners in engaging and motivating ways

Embedding sustainability throughout the school and local community

When we give children the skills and knowledge for learning and working in the garden, we are equipping them for the future, giving them the building blocks for healthy living, self-reliance and sustainability. We are also, by proxy, transferring these skills and knowledge to their families and reconnecting communities with food and nature.

growing curriculum

growing gardens

growing systems

Schools Framework

A description of our approach to teaching and learning about the garden

Download here

School Gardens video

Students, teachers, parents and permaculturalists share their experiences at Grovely and Zillmere State Schools.
View here