Mel has always thought that the future is in the hands of our children, and that gardening can teach all of the lifetime skills and values needed to make us responsible caretakers of the Earth. The “Garden in Every School” program is a new project of the Square Foot Gardening Foundation. The concept is simple – gardening can be used to teach so many different subjects. More importantly, Square Foot Gardening is actually a philosophy, which encourages and demonstrates basic values, such as conservation, economy, efficiency, responsibility, and nurturing.

Students are always asking, “Why do I have to learn this?” (Questioning math, science, or history), so we designed a program that will show them how a simple activity like gardening can utilize all of those subjects.

The SFG Foundation has created many school gardens around the country, including over 350 in California, 500 in Utah as well as a smaller number in Idaho, Florida, Maine and Bermuda. Mel wrote a 9 week, 55 page Lesson Plan especially for this project. The information and activities can be adapted to any grade level, location, or type of school. Extensive associated material is included, such as math, science, history, geography, art, family values, and more.

Our popular “Garden in Every School” program can be started in your school utilizing the easy to understand lesson plan Mel wrote. It contains all the information needed to start your own garden program including directions for building your own garden boxes and mixing your own special soil called “Mel’s Mix.” Just the start – building boxes, is an exciting family project. You are going to love this simple easy way to teach.

Teaching Through Square Foot Gardening

Gardening can be used to teach many different subjects, including history, art, science, math, geography, geology, and family living. However, the most important thing is that Square Foot Gardening is really a philosophy of living that encourages the use of basic values like responsibility, nurturing, conservation and efficiency.

Our 55-page Lesson Plan contains all of the information and activities that are easily adaptable to any grade level or location. It has everything you will need to start your own school garden program. Here are just a few of the subjects that can be taught through gardening.