Horticulture Rediscovered: The Flowering of American Schoolyards

This paper discusses the benefits of having gardens at schools. School gardens are a practical and effective way to connect children with nature, teach hands-on science and environmental education, and beautify barren school grounds. In order for all United States schools to establish gardens, school ground improvement must become an important educational and community priority. This goal could be achieved by the formation of a unified political and educational coalition lobbying for school ground improvement based on evidence that school gardens can improve the academic and social behaviors of students. Examples for school gardens and resources on gardening are presented. (SAH)