Roots of the School Gardening Movement

The school garden movement is growing. A significant resource for teaching and learning, gardens provide students with a connection to nature and an understanding of where the food we all eat comes from. The act of building and maintaining a garden can give a foundation for lessons not only in the sciences and nutrition, but also in mathematics, social studies, and art, as well as broader lessons of teamwork and responsibility. The recent Harvard Education Press title, Ripe for Change: Garden-Based Learning in Schools, explores this movement, delves into its history, and suggests steps that should be taken to widen the practice

In this edition of the Harvard EdCast, Jane Hirschi, author of Ripe for Change and founding director of CitySprouts in Cambridge and Boston, reflects on garden-based learning in public K–8 education.

About the Harvard EdCast

The Harvard EdCast is a weekly series of podcasts, available on the Harvard University iTunes U page, that features a 15-20 minute conversation with thought leaders in the field of education from across the country and around the world. Hosted by Matt Weber, the Harvard EdCast is a space for educational discourse and openness, focusing on the myriad issues and current events related to the field.