F I V E R I V E R S M E T R O P A R K S

F I V E R I V E R S M E T R O P A R K S
Jeremy Barkley Samantha Conner Welcome – introduction Brief Green Schoolyards (GSY) overview -- transition into Five River Metroparks (FRMP)

25 facilities ~16,000 acres protected
Aullwood Garden MetroPark Carriage Hill MetroPark Cox Arboretum MetroPark Deeds Point MetroPark Eastwood MetroPark Englewood MetroPark Germantown MetroPark Hills & Dales MetroPark Huffman MetroPark Island MetroPark National City 2nd Street Market Possum Creek MetroPark RiverScape MetroPark Sugarcreek MetroPark Sunrise MetroPark Taylorsville MetroPark Twin Creek MetroPark Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark Wesleyan MetroPark/Adventure Central Conservation Areas Recreation Trails River Corridors Recreation Facilities Free to the public – numerous classes/programs offered – Montgomery county tax levy 160 miles of recreation trails 90 % of land managed by the FRMP is in its natural state 10% buildings, parking lots, etc Transition into large map of parks

Green locations – park sites -- GSY and community gardens connect these sites
wildlife pollinators / habitats Wildlife corridor Perhaps point there location out on map and show surround parks – one must be nearby

A Green Schoolyard (GSY) is…
A GSY serves as a habitat or refuge for humans and wildlife to co-exist. Most importantly, a GSY re-establishes ties that are becoming lost in our digital world. use of Travis Rice quote here - digital world –” You know it’s funny what’s happening to us. Our lives have become digital. Our friends now virtual, and everything you could ever want to know is only a click away. Experiencing the world through endless second hand information is not enough. If we want authenticity, we have to initiate it.” GSY provide an outlet for authentic learning but it must be initiated YOU ALREADY have a GSY – get out and use it, build on to it!

Greening Your Schoolyard
School gardens come in all shapes and sizes We just mentioned you have a green schoolyard in some manner, could make it MORE green – all shapes and sizes are considered GSY, cant be too small one plant could be used as a teaching tool Local examples of themed gardens – PVS alphabet garden, recipe (salsa), wildlife, pollinator The Miami Valley School

School Vegetable Gardens
Also known as WILD School Sites Outdoor Classrooms Habitats for Learning Green Space Green Room Schoolyard Habitats School Nature Centers School Vegetable Gardens GSY have many shapes and size they also have many different names .. may have heard of a GSY before GSY aka… Common words/trends – school, class, green

Why have a Green Schoolyard?
Some startling finds: Children ages 8-18 spend 7-1/2 hours a day in front of media. (Kaiser Family Foundation (2010). “Generation M2: Media in the Lives of 8- to 18-Year-Olds.) In a typical week, only 6 percent of children ages 9-13 play outside on their own. (Children and Nature Network, ) The key obstacles to overcome in getting youth to spend more time in nature are a lack of access, a lack of interest, and feelings of discomfort. (The Nature Conservancy Connecting America’s Youth to Nature Survey Results. Methodology: From July 28 to August 4.) Times have changed with the rise of technology – increased time with electronics and decreased time in nature Benefits: Both at home and at schools – GSY and outdoor education can help build interest and respect in nature for young students - Giving students the opportunity to interact directly with what they are learning is more likely to leave an impact on them and change their future attitudes and behaviors towards what they are learning (Kilinc 2010). According to studies, children’s academic performance in science, math, English, and social sciences increase when they have hands-on experiences with nature and the outdoors. These experiences in nature also help foster a strong sense of ownership and responsibility over their surroundings. – NWF Jeremy

Academic Connections Way to connect garden projects to numerous different academic subjects -- break down in word document that can get sent out Art Painting Natural art drawings/collage Pen and ink Charcoal (rubbing materials) Stacking natural items Vegetable dyes Vegetable prints Vegetable paintings Plant/leaf pressing/preserving Leaf rubbings Arrangements for gifts Drama/puppets Expressive writing/drawing Health and Physical Education Safety working with garden tools Nutrition education Foods and diet Importance of exercise Breathing practice, calming meditation Walking Lifting Carrying Digging Planting Breathing fresh air Dexterity and balance Science Composition of compost/soil Biology projects Wildlife identification Plant identification Scientific method Testing Concluding Measuring Recording Observing Predicting Comparing Math Geometry Area Scale Diagram on graph paper Estimations from measures Plot garden/bed space Plant growth- plant spacing Water usage Materials needed Compost/soil composition Price of products-budgets Logging data Graphing Social community connections Local agriculture economy Insight into hobbies and uses of leisure time Agriculture occupations Documenting environmental issues Related businesses Hardware store Old/new local farms Green houses Local community gardens Music Singing Instrumental music (rhythm of gardening) Natural instruments Drama Language Arts Speech, expressive language Questioning Summarizing Interviewing Public speaking Listening Stories Sequences Directions Listening centers Reading Instructional books Informational guides Written Expression Non-fiction Planting facts Composting techniques Garden types Plant history Educational lesson Fiction Poetry Songs Readings Imagination- gift cards or personal story Related Activities Soil Seeds Tools Temperature Plant growth Sunlight

Steps to Starting a GSY Develop your GSY Team Develop your Goals
Complete a Site Analysis Hold a Design Meeting Practical Planning Mock up your Garden Funding your Garden Install the Garden Keep your Garden Going Long term process – growth of a mature tree Last goal very important – keep your garden going – interest, use, maintenance

Develop your GSY team: Hold a brainstorming meeting to gauge interest in the garden. Include all parties interested. Important players: Coordinator(s) Teachers Maintenance Staff Faculty Members Garden Volunteers For weeding, constructing new beds, supervising kids, etc. Community Members Students Parents Public Relations Can include cafeteria staff (cooks) Numerous parties included will provide variety of opinions and ideas – well verse and varied across many fields/ages/occupations will give multi perspective view of the garden space. Invite all interest don’t close doors to thoughts and opinions Large team to share responsibilities – utilize specific strengths For staff buy-in, build community – provide coffee or food at gatherings Qs to consider: Do you have commitment or buy in from all necessary stakeholders? Who needs more information to be persuaded? What types of information should you present to them? Which of the stakeholders are going to part of your gardening team? Who is going to lead this team? Who in this team needs training? What type of training? How is that training going to happen? Who is deciding the goals and activities of the garden? Who will provide gardening expertise? Who will be teaching the educational content of the gardening program? Where will you get the labor to build the garden? How many volunteers do you need to recruit? Public relationship- invite press, political figures, tv media. Outreach to the public, community and even school newsletter. – put word out to the community Involve your community -- Especially your Principal and Maintenance Staff Jeremy

Develop your Goals Hold a Visioning Session
Ask open ended questions such as: Why do you want a garden? How many students will be in the garden at once? What classes will use the garden? When will the garden be used? Who will maintain the garden? Where will the garden be located? Why? Once goals are defined, start planning process but - Remain Flexible. For inspiration, research successful school gardens online and in your community; contact local teachers who have made attempts at utilizing their outdoor space; visit green spaces, local parks, successful gardens. Open ended questions help provoke thoughts and conversation. Larger groups will provide more ideas and answers to the open ended questions, include the entire GSY team Want to speak about the ideas of what the garden/habitat could become Set priorities of the garden (goals) Can always add why as a follow up question to find out reasoning Prompts to consider: Who is your target audience? • Age range? • Specific demographics? (low income, special needs, etc.) • How many students will be using the garden? Describe the site: • In school • After school • Summer During what months will your program run? When will gardening occur? When will programming (lessons, etc.) occur? How often? What are YOUR goals for the program? What are the goals of the SITE? Leads directly into a site analysis Jeremy

Do a Site Analysis Observe your site
Size of Site Sunlight Water Soil Assessment Drainage Access Traffic Patterns (i.e. sports, recess) Existing Features “look” Create a rough map of your findings. Once goals are set – thinking about where the best place for your garden is - start a site analysis to determine the existing conditions of your site and optimal location for your habitat. Good communication will reduce the ‘traffic jams’ Rough map can be created by students for art or math project Site analysis activity could be done by students to create interest N

Hold a Design Meeting Draw a garden plan:
Garden beds, water areas, pathways, trees, sitting area Rough drawing examples – could be done by many people including students that are focused on different ideas Garden Plan should include a map of your space(s), planting layouts for the season (where and how much you will plant), a planting schedule, and a maintenance plan. Involve Students! Each class can design its own vision of the garden – pick unique elements of each – ownership Mapping school garden utilizes geography and math skills What type of garden will you have? • Raised beds, • in ground, • containers How big will your garden be? How many beds/pots? What size beds/pots? Is this an appropriate size to meet your goals? Give identity and theme of garden, even naming of the garden Theme of garden – supported by plant selection, logos, names could be contest that student vote on or even come up with Garden plan should be set for 3 – 5 years slow addition leads to more success – long process including maintenance plan, schedule of garden use (times/dates) Marketing plan for school/community – build interest N

What Projects Can You Do?
Primary Village South Project done by eagle scouts at PVS – Bird blind, bird feeders and nesting boxes – small or large projects Use community resources Jeremy Bird Feeding and Monitoring Primary Village South

Habitat/Home for Wildlife
Primary Village South Natural and man made Explore to find existing sites – add to enhance Bird, pollinator, herp habitats Jeremy

Practical Planning Materials Construction Methods Plant Preferences
Teaching areas Beds Pathways Construction Methods Consider volunteer skills and desires Existing structures Plant Preferences Focus on garden theme Plot your garden use on a calendar Cleveland School Post design meeting when garden plan approved: Materials beds – wood, brick, stone paths – economic choice of stone/pavers vs woodchips vs maintainable grass Permanent existing structures to consider Plant selection – consider mature size/space needed Limited space? Options: Square foot garden beds Vertical gardening - Trellising (training) How much can you spend? Are you building a temporary (single-season) structure or will it be permanent? What type of plants do you want to support? Can recycle or reuse items (old bamboo stalks, old pallets (non-treated), baling twine) • A 10’ X 10’ garden can yield approximately 45 lbs. of produce. • A 400 sq. ft. garden (20 X 20) requires a minimum of 30 minutes per day early in the season. - Civicgardencenter.org Lange school focuses on preschool so height of stumps is crucial compared to Cleveland elementary N Lange School

Zone 6 planting calendar
Seasonal calendar to reflect planting and harvesting dates for veggies and fruits. Layout to follow and set summer schedule Timing of planting and harvesting to help with setting dates Summer maintenance plan – water, weed, (thin, harvest if needed) Plant fast-growing crops - lettuce, radishes, carrots, and broccoli in early spring so that students can harvest them before school is out Plant slow-growing crops such as pumpkins, corn, and tomatoes in late spring so that students can harvest them in the fall Schoolyard doesn’t have to be vegetable garden *Move into prairie plants* N

Planting Prairie Seeds
Planting guide for prairie plants – advantages and disadvantages Reestablish the idea that a habitat is also very beneficial – doesn’t HAVE to be vegetable Coreposis tinctoria (annual flower) can be used as a nurse crop as perennials become established

Extensive root systems of prairie plants – improves water infiltration vs turf grasses – preserve biodiversity and provide wildlife habitat Again establish importance of pollinators and habitat in general J

Mock up your Garden Actually lay out the garden to size before you build Does it match your vision? Check Accessibility Make sure you’ve chosen practical pathway materials Tour layout of the garden See what response you get Schedule tour with maintenance staff and others from GSY to get responses before actually building the garden Leave the “mock up” of garden out and visible for numerous days to see if the construction catches any eyes and produces any ideas – increases interest, questions and can bring forth any future traffic concerns The mock up of the garden can be done as a collaborative project for students to complete – use of signage can be done here to draw attention and interest from a large group of people Pathways should be curved in some nature – less formal feel allowing for students/teachers/workers to feel more relaxed and free while in garden space. Materials: woodchips vs rock pavers N

Don’t forget about your
Funding your Garden Donations Time (volunteers) Materials (talk to local stores, found items) Don’t forget about your existing inventory! Fundraisers Local resources (MetroParks) Networking Grants (WILD School Sites) Funding is an ongoing Process… Accessible and mobile plants in containers with wheels Local resources Local businesses: nurseries, landscaping or lumber companies, irrigation or bulldozing contractors; any business that has or does something you need. Garden clubs Many trainings & classes available to help gain knowledge Partnerships (Southdale and Kettering Trader Joe’s) Networking - SAGE, other schools & gardens – available opportunities Keep Montgomery county beautiful grant Ohio EPA grants – environmental edu. Don’t stop with one grant – check monthly Community gardeners e-newsletter that includes local grant possibilities Dayton Metro Library - Foundation Grants database N

Freebies! Compost—Compost Kitchen Leaves Woodchips Cardboard Manure
Seed swaps Ask for donations! 3 part class compost kitchen – free – offered at metro parks seasonally (Feb, Aug, & Nov) and at the end get free large compost bin – look in Parkways composting materials (if you don’t produce enough) can be collected free of charge in some places N

Schedule workdays to install elements of your garden:
Install the Garden Schedule workdays to install elements of your garden: Bed building Laying compost and path material Planting days for seeds, plugs, seedlings Mural painting day More ideas? Lange School When installing your garden you want to follow the methods used in the mock up of your garden and work big to small. Installing large items first then smaller – collaboration effort with the whole GSY team (students, volunteers, teachers all building together) builds teamwork and personal involvement (investment to the garden) Make each big day an event (ie. Opening, Planting day, harvest day, seed collecting day even weeding or watering day) celebrate these events as a step or goal reached. Make a checklist with steps or goals on it – once reached be sure to market and celebrate these days J Cleveland School Don’t forget to ADVERTISE and CELEBRATE each step!

Keep your garden going! Upkeep Future Funding
Maintain Soil Weed Control Summer plans Work with Maintenance Recruit volunteers—and have volunteer appreciation events Future Funding Continue to build relationships Ask for donations Apply for grants Keep the community involved Plan to expand Use the GSY, this leads to more constructive work done in the garden before during or after other activities. Use will allow for long term success – be sure to utilize as often as possible Maintenance – communication; awareness of what is what; what should and shouldn’t be cut or sprayed Long term mission – slow addition. Strong/large GSY team and shared responsibility and support will lead to long term success for the garden Slow & steady plan to expand is necessary – always plan out and talk with your GSY team Increase the amount of community involvement – financially and through the donation of their time/effort Call on local groups to support (increase community involvement) Summer volunteers – community/students/teachers -- to keep garden going in busy months of summer families adopt garden for a week At PVS – PTO clean up days J

Steps to Starting a GSY Develop your GSY Team Develop your Goals
Complete a Site Analysis Hold a Design Meeting Construction and Practical Planning Mock up your Garden Funding your Garden Install the Garden Keep your Garden Going Recap— Long process that is broken down into steps N

Accessible and Container Gardens
Small planters can be reached from paved area and are small enough to be moved Container Gardens: Livestock watering tanks (galvanized water trough containers at River’s Edge), shipping crates, laundry tubs, discarded bathtubs or sinks, recycled recycling containers, straw bales Some plants have deep root systems and may not have enough room to expand downward in their search for water and nutrients. If your container is at least 1–2 feet deep, you can grow vegetables like radishes, lettuce greens, and herbs. If your container is at least 2–5 ft deep, you can add beans, cucumbers, and peas. If you want to include tomatoes, asparagus, pumpkins, or other plants with deep root systems, your container or bed should be at least 3 ft deep. Vertical planting (trellising or hanging gardens): - A vertical garden is a garden that grows up rather than out. - work well in small areas and urban environments with little outside space for a garden. - Require minimal space, maximizes vertical space - can grow up a trellis, arbor, or pergola, or even up a wall, fence, light pole, or drainpipe. Climbing plants such as runner beans, peas, gourds, and flowering vines are best for trellis gardens. Smaller plants such as herbs, lettuces, and leafy greens grow well in hanging wall gardens. N Hanging gardens for access at any level

Theme Gardens Recipe Garden Wildlife Garden Alphabet Garden
Plant selection influences the theme/name of garden J

Literature Gardens Jack in the Beanstalk Wizard of Oz Peter Rabbit
Themed gardens that may spark more interest from some students – increased involvement Peter Rabbit: Peter Rabbit

Three Sisters Garden Fairy Garden
Companion gardening – three sisters Themed gardens with children focus N

Sensation Gardens Primary Village South
Five senses garden – very interactive and experience based At PVS – opportunity for students in wheelchairs to interact with plants N Primary Village South

Edible Flower Gardens Chives Pollinator connection – human importance
J Chives

Rain Gardens Installed in 2006, picture taken in 2007
Native Rain Garden Ritter Public Library Vermillion, Ohio Installed in 2006, picture taken in 2007 By resident in Plymouth, MN Water treatment – runoff issues Keep water where it lands – civic garden center slogan Jeremy

Perch and Plant Garden Easy experimental theme garden that is great collaboration with bird feeders/habitats: birdbath, native plants, nesting boxes, feeders J

Life in a Log Get Creative!
Protect lesson plans when outdoors – Reduce – reuse – recycle Life in a log could be outdoors waiting as we speak – just need to explore – may not find large mammals but keep looking! could place a log in a good spot for observation Bug Shake Activity: Take a pillow case, sheet or large piece of white paper. Place it under a plant or a tree. Shake it to see what insects fall out. Examine the insects and identify them. Some might fly away, but others will stay. How many different kinds of insects were found? Now try another plant and see if the insects are the same or different. (Can compare non-native vs. native plants). J The Miami Valley School

FRMP Green Schoolyards Program
First Contact Visit: Discussion with GSY team and a walk through of prospective site After the meeting the teachers then speaks with additional faculty and Principal invites us back for a second visit. Second Site Visit and Group Presentation: Formal Presentation on Creating a Green Schoolyard plus walk through of site This qualifies as WILD School Site Presentation and allows us to give you some resources from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Opportunity to apply for partnership with FRMP Requires a School Liaison and Principal Acknowledgement Will have access to tools, resources and timely communication Receive two outreach programs from FRMP at school site Assistance with designing and support during a welcome to the garden open house Speak about the partnership and new advantages brought forth with the new MOU N

So what is a WILD School Site?
Just go outside! Project Wild “…supplementary education program emphasizing awareness, appreciation, and understanding of wildlife and natural resources.” - ODNR WILD School Site “any school property used by students, teachers, and the school community as a place to learn about and benefit from wildlife and the environment…regardless of size and location” Project Wild Workshops Project WILD & Inquiry Adventures workshop – at Cox Arboretum MetroPark – will certify teachers in Project Wild curricula J You already have a WILD school site…

Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR)
Check out this Web site at for information and WSS grant. You may also call or Wildlife for resources Wild School Site Grant through ODNR – up to 500 dollars within basic application Not guaranteed, NOT determined by FRMP!!! This presentation made in partnership with ODNR

Resources California School Garden Network
School and Garden Educators (SAGE) American Community Gardening Association Central State University Extension ral-Sciences-Facilities-12 Compost Calculator ml Cornell Waste Management Institute Dayton Metro Library Seed Lending locations Brookville, Huber Heights, West Carrollton Our facebook page – SAGE Deleted: California School Garden Network hub.org/files/resources/GFLBook.pdf

Resources Dayton Metro Library Grants Information Center
grants?id=351 Five Rivers MetroParks The National Wildlife Federation Ohio Department of Natural Resources discovery/conservation-education-project-wild#tabr1 OSU County Extensions: Master Gardener, Nutrition Green Teacher Webinars

School Garden Resources
Garden Planning & Design Audubon: Monarch Watch: National Wildlife Federation: School Garden Wizard: schoolgardenwizard.org Summer Maintenance Ideas: The Pollinator Partnership: U.S. Fish & Wildlife: Gardening Tips Green Education Foundation: Deleted: California School Garden Network:

Funding Sources Kids Gardening: https://kidsgardening.org/grants/
Garden Curriculum & Activities Big Green: Green Education Foundation: Kids Gardening: Lessons for the School Garden & Classroom: Ohio Department of Natural Resources: Organic Farming Research Foundation: Funding Sources Kids Gardening: North Central SARE: Ohio EPA, Ohio Environmental Education Grant: ODNR Wild School Site: Slow Food USA: The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, BirdSleuth K-12: USDA Farm to School: Deleted: John Hopkins: Students Learning Through Urban Gardening:

Green Schoolyards Contacts
Five Rivers MetroParks Staff Doug Horvath, Education Supervisor Kate Lowry, Education Supervisor Green Schoolyards Coordinators Samantha Conner Jeremy Barkley

F I V E R I V E R S M E T R O P A R K S
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F I V E R I V E R S M E T R O P A R K S

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