Eddible Gardens in Schools was set up by Rachel Sykes at the beginning of 2005 in order to help schools in Devon to establish organic, edible gardens in their school grounds. EGS offers practical, hands-on workshops to schools on topics such as Building Raised Beds, Spring Seeds Sowing, Building Compost Systems and Making Liquid Fertiliser. Any other gardening topic you are interested in can be accommodated!

During the last few decades, food has become more and more industrialised, packaged and processed. Much of this food is unhealthy and is causing problems not only to our well-being, but also to the well-being of the planet.  Many of us, particularly children, have lost our connection with our food and where it comes from - the supermarket is not the source of all life!

Food plays a crucial part in connecting us to our environment. By taking the time to grow food ourselves we realise how much we are a part of, and dependent on the world we live in, and understand the need to look after it.  Growing food organically also shows us the interdependent nature of our world - from the complex relationships between minibeasts in our compost, to the wider issues such as the effect of food miles on the planet. By helping children learn the principles of organic gardening, they become familiar with the many relationships and cycles within nature and develop an awareness of how the food they eat is affected by the way they treat the environment.  From their experience in the garden, they will learn the importance eating healthy, nutritious food and understand need to look after our own habitat - the Earth.

By learning how to grow, cook and eat our own healthy, organic vegetables, we also learn:

• Important life skills
• How to reduce, reuse and recycle waste, through hands- on composting
• The importance of eating local, fresh, seasonal food
• To respect the environment by understanding our connection to it.

The garden also:

• Provides a safe, healthy and stimulating place for teaching many aspects of the curriculum
• Helps develop self-reliance and self-esteem
• Encourages pride in the school environment
• Provides a place for the community to become involved, to share skills, knowledge and good food!

Contact us!  When starting an edible garden, schools will be asked to get together a 'Growing Group' - a small team of people from the school community (e.g. pupils, teachers, parents, neighbours, governors, grandparents) - who will be responsible for the garden in the long term. It is important that the maintenance of the garden is not dependent on just one person, otherwise the garden will not be sustainable. This Growing Group will make sure there is enough manure, compost, seeds etc. and find funding for these resources if necessary.  Ideally, the garden will also be part of the school development plan.

Edible Gardens in Schools
The Granary
Langford Barton, Ugborough, Devon PL21 0PG
tel.: 01364 73058
e-mail: raych@onetel.com

Edible Gardens in Schools is a project of Devon Development Education (DDE) which is based at the Global Centre in Exeter. DDE has a number of educational projects, a great library of teaching resources and also offers training and INSET for schools. Please see www.globalcentredevon.org.uk for more details.