The Windsor Essex County Community Garden Collective is actively seeking to assist schools in Windsor and Essex County with the development of School Gardens at any level, and in any Board.
If you are interested in developing a School Garden, need help with School Gardens, or want to assist others in the Windsor Essex Region advocate for School Gardens, consider signing up for this School Garden Google Group to stay in touch with others interested in School Gardens.
Free Manual Here!
From Roots to Shoots:
An Edible Garden Guide for York Region
MORE INFO HERE...LOTS MORE SCROLL DOWN!
Benefits to Students
There is growing interest around the world for using gardens as a hands-on learning opportunity that can be integrated into a wide range of subject areas. Studies of food-producing gardens in schools cite the following benefits for children:
- An increased willingness to taste and like new vegetables, and an increase in fruit and vegetable intake
- Reinforcement of nutrition lessons in the class
- Improved academic performance
- A hands-on approach to learning about sustainability, ecology and math
- An opportunity for light to moderate physical activity (especially for those who are less physically active)
- Increased self-understanding (includes self-esteem) and self-efficacy, improved life-skills, improved teamwork and relationships with others and a sense of empowerment
Success Stories
Check out what Seedlings Child Care Centre is doing with their garden! Seedlings Video.
In the News
Lessons From A Super School Garden - May 2014
Agricultural Advisory Committee Takes Action - Fall 2012, page 11.
Zucchini Palooza - August 2nd, 2012
Washing Cars for Firehall 7-1 Community Garden - July 2012
Firefighter Carwash for Vaughan Community Garden - June 21st, 2012
Garden Launch Event - June 2012
Markham nutrition pioneer wins award - May 29th 2012
Community gardens concept gaining ground - May 11th, 2012
Growing to Give Garden Opening - May 2012
Growing to Give’s community harvest tasting Introduction to the Chef program - October 4th, 2011
Garden Hop - July 21st, 2011
Fire Fighters’ Car Wash Fundraiser - June 2011
Continuous coverage with Thornhill Liberal- May 26th (Fire Fighters’ Car wash Fundraiser) and June 4th (Firehall Garden Installation) postings
Saturday May 28th and Sunday May 29th, 2011, Seeds For Change and many of the incredible Firemen from Firehall 7-1 and their peers from Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service volunteered their time and hosted a Car Wash at the Promenade Mall from 10 am - 4pm to raise money for the community garden being installed at their Firehall (835 Clark Ave. West.) on June 1st.
We want to thank EVERYONE for coming out and supporting us! Your generousity and goodwill raised just over $2200.00 in donations to go towards this project! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!
Program plants fresh ideas about the joys of gardening - May 5th, 2011
Coun Burke City Post Magazine - April, 2011
Saturday, April 9th, 2011, Seeds For Change (SFC) hosted the “Deepening Our Roots” symposium. This event introduced the York Region Community Garden Network (YRCGN), created by SFC, which brought together gardeners, public health nurses, local politicians, representatives from Eco-Schools and others. All those dedicated to collaboratively creating a more sustainable environment for everyone living in York Region.
Seeds For Change creates healthy neighbourhoods - April 8th, 2011
Saturday, April 30th, 2011 a glorious day where the sun shone down, as the first community garden at a 58 townhome complex was installed with the support of our local Councillors, Valerie Burke and Howard Shore, BUFCO (Backyard Urban Farm Company) and a great team from Home Depot. The children’s committee served delicious vegetarian pizza and carrot cake that they had previously baked. A raised bed and seedling workshop were held engaging everyone - children from 3 years old to our retired residents, encouraging both inter-generational and cross cultural relationships. Having nurtured our seedlings over the past 3 weeks we’ll be ready to plant together at the end of the month.
The Bendale Market Garden is Canada’s first school-based market garden. Students are involved in every step of the process of bringing food from field to table. They plant, grow, and harvest the food on what was once the front and back lawns of the school; they cook the fruits and vegetables in the culinary arts classes; they serve this food to their peers in the cafeteria. This market garden is a collaborative partnership between FoodShare Toronto and Bendale Business and Technical Institute.
MORE RESOURCES
Master Gardeners of Ontario Resources:
Other Links and Resources:
Children’s Eco Programs
Community Food Centres
Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide - Health Canada’s Food Guide
Evergreen - Connect your students to nature with healthy play-based learning and recreation activities.
Fresh City Farms
Healthy Schools Recognition Program (Govt.) - The Healthy Schools Recognition Program promotes and celebrates healthy behaviours and practices in Ontario’s schools. Schools pledge to take on a healthy activity in their school – and receive recognition for it. Schools can start a new activity or build on an existing one.
Imagine a Garden In Every School
Food For Learning
Magic Suitcase Online Bookstore, featuring quality curriculum-related picture books and resources
Mix It Up - The Mix it
New Garden. No Digging. (Article)
Ontario’s School Nutrition Standards - This memorandum is to set out nutrition standards for food and beverages sold in publicly funded elementary and secondary schools in Ontario.up campaign is a social marketing initiative aimed at helping Canadians of all ages eat more fruits and vegetables as part of a healthy diet and active lifestyle to better their health.
The Ontario Apple Growers (OAG)
Ontario Edible Education Network
Ontario Fresh - Growing the Business of Local Food
York Region; Programs and Services Offered - Elementary Schools - The York Region Community and Health Services, Nutrition Services, works in partnership with the Elementary School Team, to promote the Healthy Schools Program. Nutrition Services uses a comprehensive or ‘whole school approach’ to create a healthy school nutrition environment with the goal of improving eating behaviours in students, as well as families.
Waking Times. 3 examples of inspiring Urban Agriculture.
Community Food Centres
Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide - Health Canada’s Food Guide
Evergreen - Connect your students to nature with healthy play-based learning and recreation activities.
Fresh City Farms
Healthy Schools Recognition Program (Govt.) - The Healthy Schools Recognition Program promotes and celebrates healthy behaviours and practices in Ontario’s schools. Schools pledge to take on a healthy activity in their school – and receive recognition for it. Schools can start a new activity or build on an existing one.
Imagine a Garden In Every School
Food For Learning
Magic Suitcase Online Bookstore, featuring quality curriculum-related picture books and resources
Mix It Up - The Mix it
New Garden. No Digging. (Article)
Ontario’s School Nutrition Standards - This memorandum is to set out nutrition standards for food and beverages sold in publicly funded elementary and secondary schools in Ontario.up campaign is a social marketing initiative aimed at helping Canadians of all ages eat more fruits and vegetables as part of a healthy diet and active lifestyle to better their health.
The Ontario Apple Growers (OAG)
Ontario Edible Education Network
Ontario Fresh - Growing the Business of Local Food
York Region; Programs and Services Offered - Elementary Schools - The York Region Community and Health Services, Nutrition Services, works in partnership with the Elementary School Team, to promote the Healthy Schools Program. Nutrition Services uses a comprehensive or ‘whole school approach’ to create a healthy school nutrition environment with the goal of improving eating behaviours in students, as well as families.
Waking Times. 3 examples of inspiring Urban Agriculture.
