Gardeners' World Web User
19/04/2008 at 22:54
Answer to Penny,
My students absolutely love growing vegetables, but they like to take responsibility for their own plants (ie, these broad beans were planted by William and Jacob and so they are the ones to tie them in and pick them). Ownership apears to be important to them. I have involved them in planning the layout of the garden, designing on squared paper, measuring, etc. and have made clear to them that although the garden is owned by the school, it belongs to the students. Knowing this, my students choose to give up their free lunch time to water the seedlings in the greenhouse, and have even asked for the shed key to tidy it! Now that is rare and wonderful!!!
Good luck with your students. I think all children, of all ages, will love gardening if encouraged and alowed to do it for themselves without to much pressure. My guys come up some odd ideas that don't always work, but they are keen to try. They will learn through their own experiences. Also, I try to make light of any mis-haps or failures. In the cold times we do indoor planting, bench and staging building, etc that takes us through the winter.
