Vision

It is essential that if we are to take action against climate change, we start growing our own food. As a student in my third year at Chatelech Secondary School, the lack of greenery on our campus is alarming. The one garden that we do have is run down and doesn’t reflect our potential to make a sustainable space. The old garden hasn’t been properly cared for, and is fenced in, making it not easily available to the public. My goal is to make my school both more green and sustainable with the addition of a new garden. This garden will use hands-on learning to teach students the importance of growing their own food and how doing so can protect and enhance our environment. My hope for this project is that students will take care of the garden from planting to harvesting. It is my intention for half the vegetables to be given back to students (i.e. food/lunch program, foods classes, etc). While the second half is given back to the community through the food bank or another program (i.e. Sechelt Community Schools partnership). I believe that this garden will be a wonderful space where students can learn, relax, and have fun.

Location:

My school has always been behind the times with our contributions to making greener spaces. It is of the utmost importance that these gardens are just the start of many new projects. It is first and foremost substantial to look at placement. The garden should be at the front of the school so that the garden will be easily accessible. The close proximity to the entrance will make sure that everyday students will be reminded of the garden’s presence. My hope is that the garden will be easily noticeable, and distracting from the dull concrete wall that our school is today. We must put the survival of the garden first which means watching the amount of sunlight that the location will receive. Too much or little sunlight could jeopardize the survival of every plant in the area.

Long-Term Goals:

With climate change becoming increasingly disastrous, it is absolutely essential that everyone makes an effort to move into a sustainable future. These gardens will not only have the ability to teach students how to care for plants, but also educate them on how simply eating produce that you have grown can have a widespread impact on your carbon footprint (how much fossil fuels you put into the atmosphere.) Produce planted in our gardens will be pesticide free and therefore organic. More people need to know how many chemicals and fossil fuels have gone into every product that they choose to purchase from the store.
Giving the produce back to the students will be a wonderful way to contribute to our school community, and give fresh produce to those that might not be fortunate enough to have it at home. By further giving to the food bank we hope to support the fight against poverty and hunger. A group of students will volunteer to wash the produce, check for bugs, and make sure it is safe for consumption. Another option to aid our community is to sell the produce and give the funds to the food bank or other charities supporting the fight against both poverty and climate change.

Additional Features:

Automatic Watering System: A time efficient way to ensure that the plants are constantly watered.
Removable Canopy: An easy solution to the issue of drought that will provide shade for a large number of plants.
Bench Seating: A place for students to sit, relax, and enjoy the scenery.
Signage: Informs visitors of the location of each plant and their environmental benefits

Conclusion:

I want to teach others that growing your own food is quite possible if you are willing to put in both the time and effort. We must take action against climate change even if it is as simple as growing our own food. If we want people to act we must highlight the consequences of doing nothing. The horrors of climate change have not been properly addressed. I believe that far greater measures need to be taken, but I hope I will do my part in the fight against climate change and poverty by creating this garden. As a public school with not alot of money this grant could be substantial in the growth of our school.

Action

Implementation:

The garden will start in the spring when we plant each seed. We must choose plants that are very versatile so they will survive the summer drought. I will volunteer myself and the Leadership team at Chatelech to be in charge of the main protection and care of the garden. Throughout the spring, I hope to bring classes to help with the planting, watering, and of course weeding. During the summer I myself will keep my pledge to care for the garden as I only live a short way away. One of the main issues I will face during the summer is drought. To face this problem I will provide shade for the plants and water them more regularly. Then in fall we will harvest everything, and make sure that nothing is wasted.

Crop Selection:

It is a necessity that the gardens will have produce that will survive the harsh summer. Some fruits and vegetables that would be suggested:
– Tomatoes
– Peppers
– Bush Beans
– Cucumbers
– Carrots
– Kale
– Strawberries.

The garden will not be limited to these options as I believe that the students should choose what we grow. Additionally, if it is possible it would be great to grow some flowers for Mother’s Day. We will grow some plants that support our current climate goals and others that will be primarily experimental and fun.

Reflection & Celebration

Our goal, with a newly realized garden area, is to not only have students think about food systems, but find more spaces that are inviting outdoors. This secondary school, like so many mainstream institutions for youth, are mainly indoor-dominated and confined to the ‘four walls’. School district #46 (Sunshine Coast) has created a new learning strategy that revolves around meaning, experiential outdoor learning. This can be social too. Students can enjoy these areas and make new inquiries, understand how to find balance with the natural world, and learn with their head, heart, and hands. This project’s success can be incremental and a process. But, we believe there needs to be a step in the direction that shows greater care for our food systems and planet.