Step 1: Identify a Problem
All Rebel Gardeners activities are project-based and focused on solving real-world problems. The problems can be identified through conversations with students, staff, and parents. A good first question is “How can we create a healthier school?”
From here, problems are identified that you can work directly on solving such as
- a school without a garden
- a school with an unused school garden
- unappealing vegetables served at lunch
- lack of convenient access to healthy snacks during/after school
- students who don’t know how to cook
- parents who don’t know how to cook
Engaging in this collaborative project-based approach results in many indirect outcomes that universally benefit school environments such as
- immersing students in novel, interdisciplinary, hands-on learning
- connecting students to a diverse group of volunteers and community members
- beautifying to school environment
- transforming the school health culture
A natural fit for a project is the maintenance of a school garden-if one already exists. If it doesn’t, then consider building a garden to create space for powerful food education. Other ideal ‘starter’ projects include a cooking crews or a food news team.
What comes out of the project design phase is a project plan that includes the goal of the project, the timeline, space/supply/resource needs, and the roles and responsibilities for each participant. With this plan in hand, the next step is to get principal approval.