GardenABCs
How-To Guides
These guides will give you plenty of insights to start and maintain your garden project, from what to grow to maintenance tips. 
2009-2010 California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom Teacher Resource Guide
$5 for teachers outside California; free online
Best Practices for Middle School Gardens
The California Department of Education and the UC Davis Children’s Garden Program visited school garden programs at junior high and middle schools and highlighted unique contributions of each program to provide ideas that can adapted to your school setting.
California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom Resources for Every Season CD
This resource is just what you need for your classroom! The CD installs on your computer and contains all of CFAITC's current materials. Submit request form at link above.
Classroom Seed Planting Instructions
Woodland Elem. West, Gages Lake, Ill.
Community Garden Start-Up Guide
University of California Coop. Extension, LA County
Creating Deerfield High School's Outdoor Classroom Deerfield, Ill.
A school-produced video that follows the development of an outdoor classroom in the school's courtyard.
Garden Activity Timeline by Month
Woodland Elem. West, Gages Lake, Ill.
Garden Learning Videos Life Lab Science Program
Web-based videos on school garden how-to and garden-based nutrition
Getting Started: A Guide for Creating School Gardens as Outdoor Classrooms
Center for EcoLiteracy
Good Plant Choices for School / Youth Gardens
Gary Comer Youth Center, Chicago
Grant Application Advice: Native Plant Gardens for Schools and Urban Areas
Betsey Landis © 2009. Landis shares how to avoid basic pitfalls of the grant application process, especially grants with very specialized requirements for funding. Great advice for any garden project seeking funding.
Green Your School Guide
This guide from Earth Day Network offers lesson plans and student action plans on nearly every aspect of greening a school. The pages dedicated to recreation, food and Environmental Jeopardy are particularly informative.
Guide to Setting Up Your Own Edible Rooftop Garden
Alternatives and the Rooftop Gardens Project, Montreal
How to Create Classroom Grow-Light Systems
Master Gardeners in Mathews, Va., share how they construct one-tier grow-light systems for seed starting in fourth-grade classrooms.
How To Start A School Garden: A Practical AND Philosophical Guide
by the Civic Knowledge Project, the community connections branch of the Humanities Division at the University of Chicago: Cecilia Donnelly, Coordinator
This report was commissioned to help Chicago Public Schools add school gardens to their curriculums. Humanities education is critical to human growth and development on a communal and personal level, and the humanities and the environment are inextricably connected. This guide is uniquely tailored to the needs of public schools in Chicago.
Low Maintenance Gardening Strategies
Gary Comer Youth Center, Chicago
Native Plant Gardens for Schools and Urban Areas: A Survival Guide
Betsey Landis © 2009. Describes native plant communities / habitat gardens, considerations before selection and purchasing native plants or seeds, the architectuture of common native plant habitats, and Southern California sources for plants and information. Terrific insights regardless of your location!
Outdoor Classroom & Garden Design The Garden School
Explores site analysis, purpose, safety, participatory process, connecting to curriculum, recognizing others' efforts, elements of sustainable landscapes and outdoor gardens.
Planning for Healthy Communities Public Health Law & Policy
Model food systems policies for farmers markets and community gardens
Pumpkins & More
University of Illinois Extension. History, nutrition, how to grow, recipes, festivals.
Three Seed-to-Table Gardens
Gary Comer Youth Center, Chicago
Tips for Working with Children in Gardens DC Schoolyard Greening
Attendees of the Get Out and Garden Teacher Training Workshop share collective wisdom for gardening with children.
School Garden Start-Up Guide
University of California Coop. Extension, LA County
School Garden Viability Assessment Green Teacher Network - Chicago
A survey for anyone started or re-investing in an existing school garden. Easily modified for any region.
School Garden Wizard
Chicago Botanic Garden
Starting Your Own Community Garden in Chicago
Grand Crossing Community Garden Initiative
Successful Container Gardens website
University of Illinois Extension
Summer Garden Maintenance Tips
Life Lab
USDA: Gardening Together
Tips for parents and children
USDA Guidelines on Using School Garden Produce in Food Service
Q&A document regarding the operation of a school garden
SPANISH - Vegetable Gardening Basics
A Spanish version of the popular University of Illinois Extension website. You also may want to view the children's book Nuestra Huerta Generosa.
Volunteer Job Descriptions
Woodland Elem. West, Gages Lake, Ill.
$5 for teachers outside California; free online
Best Practices for Middle School Gardens
The California Department of Education and the UC Davis Children’s Garden Program visited school garden programs at junior high and middle schools and highlighted unique contributions of each program to provide ideas that can adapted to your school setting.
California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom Resources for Every Season CD
This resource is just what you need for your classroom! The CD installs on your computer and contains all of CFAITC's current materials. Submit request form at link above.
Classroom Seed Planting Instructions
Woodland Elem. West, Gages Lake, Ill.
Community Garden Start-Up Guide
University of California Coop. Extension, LA County
Creating Deerfield High School's Outdoor Classroom Deerfield, Ill.
A school-produced video that follows the development of an outdoor classroom in the school's courtyard.
Garden Activity Timeline by Month
Woodland Elem. West, Gages Lake, Ill.
Garden Learning Videos Life Lab Science Program
Web-based videos on school garden how-to and garden-based nutrition
Getting Started: A Guide for Creating School Gardens as Outdoor Classrooms
Center for EcoLiteracy
Good Plant Choices for School / Youth Gardens
Gary Comer Youth Center, Chicago
Grant Application Advice: Native Plant Gardens for Schools and Urban Areas
Betsey Landis © 2009. Landis shares how to avoid basic pitfalls of the grant application process, especially grants with very specialized requirements for funding. Great advice for any garden project seeking funding.
Green Your School Guide
This guide from Earth Day Network offers lesson plans and student action plans on nearly every aspect of greening a school. The pages dedicated to recreation, food and Environmental Jeopardy are particularly informative.
Guide to Setting Up Your Own Edible Rooftop Garden
Alternatives and the Rooftop Gardens Project, Montreal
How to Create Classroom Grow-Light Systems
Master Gardeners in Mathews, Va., share how they construct one-tier grow-light systems for seed starting in fourth-grade classrooms.
How To Start A School Garden: A Practical AND Philosophical Guide
by the Civic Knowledge Project, the community connections branch of the Humanities Division at the University of Chicago: Cecilia Donnelly, Coordinator
This report was commissioned to help Chicago Public Schools add school gardens to their curriculums. Humanities education is critical to human growth and development on a communal and personal level, and the humanities and the environment are inextricably connected. This guide is uniquely tailored to the needs of public schools in Chicago.
Low Maintenance Gardening Strategies
Gary Comer Youth Center, Chicago
Native Plant Gardens for Schools and Urban Areas: A Survival Guide
Betsey Landis © 2009. Describes native plant communities / habitat gardens, considerations before selection and purchasing native plants or seeds, the architectuture of common native plant habitats, and Southern California sources for plants and information. Terrific insights regardless of your location!
Outdoor Classroom & Garden Design The Garden School
Explores site analysis, purpose, safety, participatory process, connecting to curriculum, recognizing others' efforts, elements of sustainable landscapes and outdoor gardens.
Planning for Healthy Communities Public Health Law & Policy
Model food systems policies for farmers markets and community gardens
Pumpkins & More
University of Illinois Extension. History, nutrition, how to grow, recipes, festivals.
Three Seed-to-Table Gardens
Gary Comer Youth Center, Chicago
Tips for Working with Children in Gardens DC Schoolyard Greening
Attendees of the Get Out and Garden Teacher Training Workshop share collective wisdom for gardening with children.
School Garden Start-Up Guide
University of California Coop. Extension, LA County
School Garden Viability Assessment Green Teacher Network - Chicago
A survey for anyone started or re-investing in an existing school garden. Easily modified for any region.
School Garden Wizard
Chicago Botanic Garden
Starting Your Own Community Garden in Chicago
Grand Crossing Community Garden Initiative
Successful Container Gardens website
University of Illinois Extension
Summer Garden Maintenance Tips
Life Lab
USDA: Gardening Together
Tips for parents and children
USDA Guidelines on Using School Garden Produce in Food Service
Q&A document regarding the operation of a school garden
SPANISH - Vegetable Gardening Basics
A Spanish version of the popular University of Illinois Extension website. You also may want to view the children's book Nuestra Huerta Generosa.
Volunteer Job Descriptions
Woodland Elem. West, Gages Lake, Ill.
