The starting point

We started our School Garden Activity in January 2022. Our aim was to create an are where we could grow local products seeing them through the different stages of their life.
To start with we had to select an area in our school's external spaces suitable for our scope. We selected an area easily accessible from the entrance hall and fairly visible from most of our classes.

Soil preparation

We then started our soil preparation. The area was covered by weed so we had to clean it up by using scissors and a mower.

We then started turning the soil. This was very important to make the soil softer and let the roots of our plants spread through it. For this job we used a hoe and a spade.

We added some humus and organic fertilizer, mixed the soil around, watered it and let it rest.

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About ten days later we mixed the soil around again and we noticed some earthworms wandering around. We were very happy because this indicated our soil was in very good health.

Earthworms are vital littel creatures break down and recycle leaves, fungi, bacteria, basically any organic waste present in the soil, and by doing so they provide natural fertilizers.

Worms also dig tunnels in the soil making it softer and helping nutrients to spread.

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Planting

Normally, we would have planeted seeds in the soil and wait for them to germinate. Unfortunately, we started our winter vegetable garden too late in the year and the seeds didn't have enough time to grow before spring's arrival. So, we went for the alternative option: we plantied little plants previously grown in a seedsbed.

First of all we made the soil plane and then we created hills to avoid formation of ponds dangerous for the plants. By using a a trowel we dug little holes, laid the plant roots in and covered up with some soil.

Refining and cleaning

It was very omportant to prevent visitors from accidentally stepping on our plants. So we used twine and barbequeue wooden sticks to create the edging around our plants. We used colourful tags to make them more visible.

For each plant species we created labes so we could immediately recognise them: lattuce, fennel, radicchio, broccoli, escarole, leaks, cabbage, fava beans, pumpkins, peas, aromatic herbs, strawberries, rainbow chard.

Finally, we cleaned up the paths around our plants. All the weed was put in a compost bin. This is a big container where orgainc waste gradually becomes a natural fertilizer.