Creating a food garden: vision

Time Allocation: 30 - 40 minutes*

Activity Level: Moderate

Introduction

Planning a food garden can be a very exciting and beneficial process to keep you healthy and engaged in the great outdoors. Get started with planning and creating a vision for your new food garden. Creating a vision for your garden will help it be on a pathway to success by reflecting on the purpose and assist in the steps to get the best possible benefits. Most young learners will come with some prior knowledge of food gardens. Upon completion of the activity they will have considered important aspects of developing a food garden as well as their vision.

*Time allocation will be dependent on site selection and travel time.

Checklist

  • Printable activity sheet
  • Pencils
  • Clipboards (optional)
  • Review the case studies on the Junior Landcare website to be inspired by Junior Landcare projects (optional).
  • Instructions

    Step 1

    If your location does not have a food garden, creating a vision will help to plan and achieve the best possible results.

    In your research phase, find out more about successful food gardens.

    Read more about a Junior Landcare case study that focuses on food production. Use the filters for topic and content type to search for a suitable case study to understand more about what can be achieved.

    Research and discuss:

    • the set up and steps involved
    • the benefits
    • the challenges
    • special ideas.
    STEP 2

    Creating the food garden vision.

    • Ask the children what are the benefits of creating a food garden in our local area?
    • Discuss the benefits for sustainability, health, learning, expenses and your community.
    • What do you think will make your food garden a success?
    • Who else can we involve?

    You want the best possible outcome, therefore it is ideal to involve as many people as possible in your decision making process. This will help promote ownership and future interest in the food garden.

    At a school, this could include interested students, the groundskeeper, volunteers and any other keen participants.

    At home, it is good to have a family discussion to focus on what you would really like. Use your research for inspiration.

    STEP 3

    Discuss in small groups:

    • who will be responsible
    • what resources will you need?
    • where can you grow food?
    • how big will your food garden be?

    What is your food garden vision? What are your goals and your creative ideas? What gets you excited about your planned food garden?

    Use the activity sheet to record ideas.

    STEP 4

    After completing the activity sheet, have the children discuss their ideas and vision with each other.

    In the discussion consider:

    • limitations and restrictions
    • who might be able to help?
    • what equipment might we need?
    • what budget is required?

    Once you have discussed and agreed on your vision, you can go to the next stage of the creating your food garden learning activity.

    Extension Activity

    Now you have your vision for creating your food garden, discuss how can you share your ideas and encourage others to help you. Design a poster or write a story for your newsletter or a social media post so others can be inspired to get involved. How and where would you like them to contact you? Can you set a date for a meeting to discuss the vision?

    What skills do you already have to create a food garden? Are there other skills that you need from people in your community? Where can you find out more? Contact your local Landcare group by searching the National Landcare Directory  to find a local grant recipient near you. We encourage you to strengthen your connection with the Landcare community. Starting a Junior Landcare group onsite to help organise and gather support for your food garden activities is a great beginning.