A Mother Helps to Start a School Garden

Amina makes a special trip to see her friend Kali who lives in a village 100 kilometres away. Amina and Kali are both mothers with children in school. They haven’t seen each other for nearly one year. When they get together, they share food, ideas and stories. Amina tells how she and her children got involved in the school garden project.

– mother of three children

– mother of two

SCENE: KALI’S HOUSE

It’s so good to see you, Amina. Did you have a good trip?

Oh, yes! I took the bus and saw many nice places. Here — I brought you some vegetables from our farm. We tried some different kinds this year.

Thank you. And I have some yams for you.

Wonderful! I have to ask you something, Kali. As I passed through your village, I saw your children’s school. A group of children were out in the schoolyard digging in the soil. Is the school making them work on the grounds?

(laughing) In a way, yes. The children are tending their own school garden. They have grown six kinds of fruits and vegetables and some herbs this year.

Oh, isn’t that fun! Who started this garden?

Many people in the community helped to set it up. It began when the children’s teacher sent a message to all the parents of children in her class. She said she wanted to start a school garden so that children could produce their own food and learn about the environment. She had the support of the school administration to start the garden. And a local development organization donated money to buy seeds and tools. She was looking for parents who were interested in helping. I volunteered.

So, what do you do?

I’m part of a school committee that plans the garden project. We decide how many classes will participate. We decide who will be responsible for different tasks such as getting the tools and materials needed for the garden. We plan events such as “Planting Day” and the harvest celebration. And we ask for advice from people who can give gardening tips and help solve problems.

Have there been many problems with the garden?

A few. For example, sometimes it’s difficult to get the children interested. You really have to choose activities that make the tasks fun for them. Sometimes, we have problems with the crops. Last year, some of the spinach the children planted got a disease. But a village elder who has been growing spinach for many years had seen every kind of problem you can have with growing spinach. She suggested a way to save the rest of the crop. You see, the committee is a gathering of people who have knowledge or special skills for growing and harvesting different crops. I helped the children grow a successful crop of yams. We got advice on soils, fertilizers, composting and appropriate varieties of seeds from our extension agent. Robert, a farmer who lives close to the school, ploughed the land before the children worked in the garden with hand tools. In exchange for his help, we gave him some vegetables at harvest time. And two shopkeepers donated spoiled produce and fish waste for our compost so that we had plenty of natural fertilizer.

But school is nearly finished for this year. What will happen to the garden?

Well, this morning, the children are planting some cover crops. These plants will keep the soil healthy for the next planting. My son has asked if he can help take care of the garden during the time the school is closed. A few other children, parents and village elders have agreed to look after the garden too.

Do the children like the garden?

Oh, yes! For a few months now, they’ve been eating the good foods they’ve grown and harvested themselves. They are so proud of their work.

But what have they learned?

Oh yes! They’ve learned many good lessons about soil life, plant biology and the environment.

Kali, thank you for telling me about the details of the school garden. I’m going to share the idea with people in my community. Maybe next year, I will be bringing you food that my children have grown!

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