Not everyone wants to run a school gardening club. And that's fine. It is time consuming and the fruits (or otherwise) of your hard work are permanently on display. And sometimes there can be unimagined problems.
But if your school is lucky enough to have someone who runs a club it's a lovely idea to support it. Even if your child doesn't attend they may change their mind. Plus, having a school garden benefits everyone.
Mostly though, it's a good idea because, unlike other school clubs, this one has ongoing financial needs. Compost. Seeds. Pots. Replacing rotten wood perhaps around the beds. The list can be endless, despite the leader being as inventive as possible to source resources.
So here's my list on how YOU can help your club:
- Never send your child off to club clutching seeds. Quite often they might be unsuitable. Or quite old (with a poor germination rate) or just not practical.
- Listen to what the leader needs if you've asked "can I get you anything?". More compost sadly means more compost not (another) packet of seeds.
- Ask if you can help with the watering if you live in the same town or village or nearby.
- Help to source some big containers. Or an old hose. Or some old tools. Useful stuff.
- Collect old comics, loo rolls, yoghurt pot containers, jam jars or empty 2l plastic bottles. This stuff is really handy.
- Offer to help find out about funding from unknown/untapped grants. You might only need to spend an hour surfing or on the phone, for the leader it's another job.
- Approach garden centres for discounts on behalf of the club (probably a good idea to run this by the Head/burser first).
- Pick up your child promptly. This is important as the leader probably has other children to get home to and tea to cook.
- Tell the club how wonderful the garden looks, even if it doesn't. It can be quite dispiriting as slugs do their worst and seedlings are weeded. Little white lies help!
- Encourage your child at home: continue growing the things they've bought home, provide them with little tools while at the club, garden with them at home.
