School gardens add to a child's education in a number of ways. Most importantly students can learn by doing, getting their hands dirty, thereby becoming immersed in learning. Gardens can capture their interests a number of ways. One successful method is through food.
Many kids hate to eat vegetables preferring candy, pizza, etc.
If that student grows his own produce from seed, nurtures it along, and finally consumes it straight from the garden, he gets hooked. Once the students are hooked and have gained some basic gardening skills they can be introduced to wild plants. Some of the native plants in the school garden should be edible for cross over value, such as elderberry. Others fill different niches such as ornamental beauty or as a component of a school yard wildlife habitat. Students spend one hour everyday in the school garden.