LEARNING ACTIVITY
Creating a food garden: planting
Category: Food Production
Climate Region: Arid | Temperate | Tropical
State or Territory:
Age Range: 7-13

STORY

Now that Beth and her Junior Landcare group have created and prepared their food garden bed, they were keen to start planting, this was the activity their group was looking forward to the most. Her friend Eliza wanted to know how to choose the best fruit and vegetables to grow. Since Beth’s family spent a lot of time in their garden at home growing their own fruits and vegetables, Beth eagerly shared her knowledge.

Beth and the whole Junior Landcare group discussed the fruits and vegetables they liked to eat, the time of the year plants grow the best, and how they will obtain the plants they need for their garden. The group collaborated with enthusiasm and were excited to be outdoors and active in the school garden.

The Junior Landcare group worked together in the garden, planting, monitoring and caring for the seedlings. It was not going to be very long until they could harvest what they planted and enjoy the fruits of their labour.

ACTIVITY OVERVIEW

Planting out your food garden is an exciting and fulfilling task. This learning activity is part of a sequence of 5 individual learning activities focused on creating a food garden. The order of these learning activities are: visionsite assessment, installing a no dig garden bed, planting and harvesting.

Outcomes

For children to:

  • understand the steps involved in planting out and maintaining a successful food garden
  • enjoy being active and productive outdoors and build their social and teamwork skills
  • follow the steps of plan, prepare, plant, monitor and care
  • learn how to choose the right food plants for the right location and season.
SEASONAL NOTES

Planting is best done in a pre-prepared garden bed. Choose the plants according to the advice on labels and in garden guides so that you get the best results from the garden. During the warmer months (spring and summer and autumn), it is recommended that you run this as a morning learning activity. This will help avoid heat stress for people and plants.

Did you know?

Soil that is good for growing plants is rich in organic matter and well drained. Organic matter helps to improve the structure and water holding capacity of soil to encourage lush plant

Did you know?

Weeds in a food garden can be problem because they take away valuable nutrients, compete for water and growing space. Remaining in control of weeds by removal or use of organic sprays will give better production in food gardens.

Did you know?

Carrots are a root vegetable. When we eat a carrot we are consuming the root. Carrot roots are large as they store starch and water.

Did you know?

Plants absorb water from all their surfaces including leaves, roots and stems. Roots absorb most of the water in a plant.

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Love Letters to the Land

Biodiversity|First Nations Perspectives|Food Production|Waste Management

Creating a food garden: vision

Food Production

Creating a food garden: installing a no dig garden bed

Food Production

Creating a food garden: harvesting

Food Production