Queen Alexandra Elementary School Garden

Credit: Sharon Hanna

“Understanding stewardship of our globe’s delicate green mantle is still sadly misunderstood and overlooked by many,” says David Tarrant, former director of Education at UBC Botanical Garden.

“The time to pass on caring for our planet is so important at an early age. Programs like this should be in every school.” Weekly programs take place outdoors in the large garden or indoors in the classroom throughout the school year, assisted by volunteer master gardeners. Even botanical Latin is part of the program – names of colours and plant families (many know garlic is from the Allium family!), with plenty of folklore woven in.

The program is a gold-mine of enrichment in all areas including literacy: students write plant tags, copy recipes, keep records and journals, and write poems and stories featuring their garden-related experiences. Children may sit on the big basalt boulders to sketch plants up close, or touch and sniff herbs – rosemary, lavender, sages, thymes, savory, parsley, mints, lovage, chives, bergamot, fennel and more – in a huge checkerboard herb garden.

“While the garden is beautiful, including some excellent vegetables, it was the absolute joy on the faces of the children who proudly showed me around that pleased me most,” adds Tarrant. Related links: Queen Alexandra Elementary School Garden slideshow Volunteers interested in regular participation should contact Sharon Hanna, garden coordinator of the Queen Alexandra Elementary School garden.