Garden Projects for the Classroom & Special Learning Programs (Paperback) - Common

by Hank Bruce

This book overflows with school gardening projects, related activities and ideas. Many subject areas are brought into play in these thirty outlined gardens, from math and science to reading and the arts. This book was written by horticultural therapists with the intention that is be used as a resource in pubic schools, for grades K-12 including special needs students. It is also ideal for independent study, youth groups, home schooling and families. There are detailed projects for both indoor and outdoor gardens ranging from vegetables to butterfly gardens, Native American plants to the rainforest. Hundreds of related activities are listed to make the fullest use of the gardens. This is a great teacher resource.

224 pages, Paperback

First published May 5, 2003

About the author

During my lifetime I have had the opportunity to meet a multitude of fascinating people It’s not the rich and famous, but the everyday people who have, time after time, taught me valuable lessons, and shown me by their actions what it means to be an everyday hero. There is no such thing as a common man, but there are billions of delightfully unique fellow human beings, and each one has something to teach me.

I have been a horticultural therapist, hunger activist, teacher, speaker and writer. Together with my wonderful, and incredibly patient wife, Tomi Jill Folk we have written over 20 books ranging from writing specifically for for senior citizens to children’s books. Much of their writing involves the field of therapeutic gardening and hunger issues. They have also authored several collections of short stories.

From 1999 through 2002 Tomi and I worked with Walt Disney World to design and staff a horticultural therapy showcase called The Opportunity Garden during the annual six week EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival. We also spoke on the subject four days each of the six weeks. This experience led to the creation of “Gardens for the Senses, Gardening as Therapy” Recently this book was revised and expanded edition http://amazon.com/dp/1484909569 continues to be our best selling title.

We have had the opportunity to work with Miho Komatsu, a gifted artist, in the creation of “Miracle of the Moringa Tree,” http://amazon.com/dp/1460949234 a children’s book that shows how the nutritious leaves of this tree can save lives in some of the most difficult parts of the world and how the seeds can be used to provide safe drinking water. Tomi and I was working with Miho to produce “The Children’s Peace Garden,” to be released in August 2014. All of our books are available on Amazon.com and many are available in Kindle format.

The ideas, thoughts and comments of readers are important to a writer. I welcome the opportunity to communicating with and learning from you.

Reviews

[AnandaTashie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The downside: Uses CelluGro Green Thumb Gardens. This is probably okay for schools with bigger amounts of money to spend. For a family, that's several hundred dollars! The book also didn't feel especially organized to me.

The good: These same ideas should be able to apply to "normal" gardens too (though there will have to be more care to see what is in zone). If nothing else, it's a book of ideas as a starting point. It has 30 garden ideas, such as: global salad bowl; growing a pizza; first American gardens; growing a shirt, a skirt, or a pair of socks; growing paper; growing a pioneer herb garden; growing a global rainbow; a garden for birds; an aromatic herb garden; edible flower garden. It also has 45 activities.

I checked this out from the library. I'll get it again as we're prepping for our spring plantings. :)