I think The Mobile Garden might very well be the "Trojan Horse" that gets gardening into schools. This thing virtually rolls around (or over) most every obstacle traditional gardens face in a school environment. Let's look at some of the more common of these obstacles:
Administrative Opposition
This is likely to be the first, albeit the least, formidable of obstacles. Despite the considerable body of research documenting the positive impacts school gardening has on student learning, many administrators are concerned foremost with the outer appearance of their school. They are very often sensitive to half-baked projects littering the school grounds and the negative impression these things might make on parents and higher ups in the system. If the garden is not successful--if it is abandoned at some point--there will be a weed choked eye sore detracting from the schools otherwise orderly appearance. And this will reflect on the Principal. On the other hand, The Mobile Garden rolls in and at the end of the school year, it rolls out. Simple as that.
Teacher Opposition
Though you might have difficulty finding a teacher who openly disputes the value of a class garden, there is considerable resistance to starting class gardens for a number of reasons. These include some of the following:
- Lack of time: Due in large part to greater class sizes and mandatory student assessment regiments, teachers are under an incredible amount of pressure just to accomplish what is put before them. Taking on a major new project seemingly unrelated to "what students need to know for the test" can be a daunting proposition for a teacher. The program I am proposing for The Mobile Garden brings a garden instructor into the classroom for an hour or so once a week. This actually buys the teacher a little time each week.
- Lack of gardening expertise: Many teachers express their own personal lack of gardening expertise as being a key reason for not starting a class garden. It is a natural instinct among teachers to feel that mastery of a subject is necessary for them to teach it. The visiting Mobile Garden instructor provides all the expertise. The teacher can contribute as much or as little as is comfortable.
- Lack of funding: A common misconception among teachers is that gardens have high start up costs. Considering the current budget crisis in American schools, it is understandable that teachers would be hesitant to undertake an unfunded project that would cost them money personally. Fortunately for the schools, the principle financial strategy for The Mobile Garden is to secure funding from private sources outside the already taxed school system.
Summer Vacation
Of all the potential obstacles a class garden will face, summer vacation is the granddaddy of them all. No matter how successful a school gardening program might be through the spring, it will fail if neglected through the summer growing season. Abandonment of a much loved garden in the beginning of June is a surefire recipe for creating that weed choked eyesore in the fall. Bad karma. Who would want to start a new school year with a visual reminder of the project that failed from last spring? Certainly not the Principal. With The Mobile Garden, students simply take their plants home with them for the summer. No muss, no fuss.
