Send us a textWelcome to School Gardens with Ease! I'm your host, Leila Mireskandari, and in this episode, I explore how food gardens can serve multiple purposes—beyond just growing food.Last week, I spoke with Victoria Hackett from Outdoor Classrooms about her system for outdoor education, where she identified four types of gardens:Gardens that feedGardens for art and beautyGardens as outdoor learning stationsGardens that attract wildlifeIf you missed that episode, I encourage you to check it out and connect with Victoria if outdoor education interests you.A Food Garden That Does It AllIn today’s episode, I discuss how the food gardens we create in my Oasis programs—like the Oasis School and Caja Oasis—can serve all four functions at once. Using Permaculture principles, we integrate multiple elements into our garden designs to meet diverse needs. Here's how:Feeding PeopleThe primary focus of my programs is to grow food during class time and align it with the curriculum, teaching students not just gardening but also math, science, language arts, and more.Creating Outdoor Learning StationsThese gardens become living classrooms, providing hands-on learning experiences, even for older students up to grade 8.Attracting WildlifeThrough polyculture and companion planting, our gardens invite beneficial insects like bees, butterflies, and ladybugs. Edible flowers like marigolds and nasturtiums add beauty and attract essential pollinators.Serving as Art and Beauty SpacesInspired by nature, we design gardens with curves rather than rigid rectangles. These organic shapes—like circles and mandalas—add aesthetic appeal and mimic natural ecosystems, making the garden inviting and magical.Permaculture Principles in ActionWhile I don’t teach Permaculture directly, its principles influence every element of my programs—from lesson plans and plant selection to student booklets and step-by-step growing guides. Concepts like valuing diversity and integrating elements ensure our gardens serve multiple purposes.If you're curious about how the Oasis Program Suite can help you build a multi-purpose school garden with ease, check out the link below:https://www.kidsgrowingcity.ca/links-oasis-programs

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