As the prevalence of edible school gardens increases, several school systems across Maryland have adopted their own activities, practices, and policies related to edible school gardens.
Great Kids Farm is a 33-acre outdoor learning laboratory that provides Baltimore City Public Schools’ students with hands-on, real world experiences. The Farm engages students from pre-kindergarten through graduation from high school in experiential learning visits that connect classroom curriculum to the world around them.
Great Kids Farm supports school-based gardens and food education programs through the use of a model schoolyard garden located at the farm, seasonal workshops focused on developing living educational spaces on school campuses, and assisting teachers in their efforts to incorporate these spaces into their curriculum. Farm staff is available to assist with site evaluation and planning for your schoolyard gardens, and can also provide vegetable transplants and various growing resources.
- Edible School Garden curriculum is tied to Next Generation Science Standards
- Gardens in the classroom or within enclosed courtyards
- System-wide participation
- Grow only products available during the school year
- Edible gardens can only be grown in containers
- Environmental gardens can be grown on school property
William S. Schmidt Environmental Center offers assistance in the planning and construction of gardens at county school sites. Specializing in the construction of raised beds for produce, butterfly, or native plantings gardens; center staff can be utilized by school staff in a variety of ways.
