Welcoming the community
Last post 16-02-2009 2:42 PM by russian. 8 replies.
-
04/02/2009 03:10 PM
|
|
|
Level 4 of the RHS Campaign for School Gardening Benchmarking Scheme asks that you have 'an established team of volunteers from the local community (including parents and governors) regularly working alongside pupils in gardening activities'.
We have tried to get parents involved in gardening at our school and have failed. Has anyone got any suggestions of how we might get them involved?
|
-
|
05/02/2009 08:23 AM
|
|
|
I would ask them why they are disinclined to become involved. I would expect lack of time, pressure of work, feel that gardening is not for them and so on - that should be the basis of short survey and then you can address the issues.
Boggy
Beware the bat-eared bogweevil
|
-
|
05/02/2009 11:01 AM
|
|
- Phot's-Moll
- The sunny South coast.
- 06 Jan 2007
-
3,347
|
Or have a really long survey for those who don't want to help - they might decidethey'd rather dig than complete the form! Seriously though ... What is it that you're asking people to do? If you've just asked for general help, then people probably do think they've not got the time or skills - or might be worried they can't afford to help. If you produced a list of specific things they could do and made each thing quite small eg donate a packet of seeds assist for one hour on Wednesday afternoons cut the grass paths once a fortnight then people would know exactly what was expected of them and might feel capable of taking part.
Whether you think you can do a thing, or think you cannot, you are right.
|
-
|
05/02/2009 02:40 PM
|
|
- Susiq
- Northumberland
- 16 Feb 2008
-
1,104
|
Excellent suggestions Phot's.
Perhaps you could also 'entice' them by saying that any veggie type produce could be shared out amongst those helping! Credit crunch etc.,
|
-
|
05/02/2009 04:48 PM
|
|
- russian
- Hants
- 25 Nov 2008
-
27
|
Interesting, especially as this week a survey came out saying childhood is worse this century dueto selfish and materialistic parents who rely too much on childcare and don't give children attention or real learning experiences. We had a garden group that was helped along initially by open days where all parents and children were invited to do a particular garden task. However these community open days fizzled out as school lost interst but a body of 3 or so parents came once a week to help kids plant veg etc in the polytunnel and raised beds. This only really came about because one person was skilled, dedicated and had time. The other aspect is poor funding. Everyday setting up and seed and composts cannot be exected for parents who already give labour and time. More forethought on the part of schoos is needede. I liked the community days and incorporating more people into projects or they become a poiuntless slog for the few.
|
-
|
05/02/2009 04:56 PM
|
|
- russian
- Hants
- 25 Nov 2008
-
27
|
Also: Involve kids in planning and designing.
Ask the local garden club (usually older people who may be have time to show kids seed sowing or donate plants)
Advertise in the local newsletter for craftsmen ( thatchers, woodturners, beekeepers) etc to come to the gardens to do talks and demonstrations
Have outdoor theatre and stories in the garden, school grounds. Have plant sales to attract in garden lovers so tey can see the school garden. Plan special open days for individual classes to show something they've grown or designed for the garden.
Keep up the momentum so as not to be reliant on the few. Include everyone, you never know what interesting people there may be out there.
|
-
|
05/02/2009 05:00 PM
|
|
- russian
- Hants
- 25 Nov 2008
-
27
|
I was very impressed in the summer at a market where I found produce grown by a primary school from Andover. The local allotment society had helped them.
|
-
|
05/02/2009 07:55 PM
|
|
- Roger H
- Orpington
- 01 Feb 2009
-
53
|
Our allotment in Orpington has a plot that is (was?) being worked by some local youngsters with learning difficulties, which we thought was great, but some of the old boys were very negative about the scheme, and were not inclined to help at all. I must get an update on it for this year and be prepared to volunteer any help they need. I think it`s an essential life-skill for any young people to have a go at growing whatever they want.
I only wish I`d been more settled earlier in life and had been gardening for longer than the 6 years I`ve been at it. I`m nearing retirement now but can`t get enough digging!
|
-
|
16/02/2009 02:42 PM
|
|
- russian
- Hants
- 25 Nov 2008
-
27
|
I've had another thought on your question about motivating parents to join in; I remembered how the local pre-school simply put your name on a rota sheet and gave it to you with the expectation that you would turn up and do the task. At first this seemed a bit bossy but most people did turn up and do whatever was asked. People do get used to this, parents can be encouraged to swap duties with each other if inconvenient times are allocated to them.
Just a thought; people rarely volunteer for anything but if told clearly and politely sometimes parents understand that they are expected to contribute their time for the benefit of the children.
|