Setting Up And Running A School Garden

Adequate nutrition and education are key to the development of children and their future livelihoods. The reality facing millions of children, however, is that these essentials are far from being met. Schools can make an important contribution to countries' efforts to overcome hunger and malnutrition, and school gardens can help to improve the nutrition and education of children and their families in both rural and urban areas. FAO promotes school gardens primarily as a platform for learning, as well as a vehicle for better nutrition. Schools are encouraged to create learning gardens that are moderate in size so that they can be easily managed by students, teachers and parents, but that also allow for the production of a variety of nutritious vegetable and fruit (and where possible, some small-scale livestock such as chicken or rabbits). In preparing this manual, intended to assist school teachers, parents and the wider community, FAO has drawn upon experiences and best practices derived from school garden initiatives all over the world. Production methods are kept simple so that they can be easily replicated by students and parents at their homes. Also published in French and in Spanish.