What Does It Really Take to Build a Successful School Garden?

If you’ve ever walked past an abandoned school garden—overgrown, forgotten, maybe full of weeds—you’ve probably wondered what went wrong.

Too many teachers start with excitement and good intentions, only to end up overwhelmed, under-supported, or burned out. Others never start at all, convinced they don’t have the budget, time, or team required to “do it right.”

But after more than a decade of helping teachers create thriving classroom and school gardens, I can tell you with full confidence:
You’ve been told the wrong story about what it takes.

Let me show you what really makes a school garden work and what quietly causes most to fail.

The Myth: You Need Money, Time, Space, and Volunteers

The most common misconceptions I hear from teachers and administrators sound like this:

• “We can’t afford raised beds or a greenhouse.”

• “There’s no time for anything extra in our day.”

• “We’d need a parent committee or a volunteer team to make it happen.”

• “There’s not enough room on our school grounds.”

Let’s unpack these one at a time:

💸 The Budget Barrier

So many teachers believe they need a grant or major fundraising effort to start a garden. But here’s what’s often overlooked:

The expensive elements—raised beds, irrigation systems, hydroponics towers—are optional, not essential.

In fact, many teachers waste valuable funds on equipment they don’t know how to use, which later becomes clutter in a shed.

The core tools you need are simple:

• High-quality soil

• Seeds

• Seed-starting trays or small containers (even repurposed ones!)

• Buckets or grow bags

• A structured lesson plan

• And a coach or guide who’s done it before

That’s it. And all of it can be done with minimal funding if you focus on what works rather than what’s flashy.

⏳ The Time Myth

Another major block is the belief that school gardens are extracurricular.

But they shouldn’t be.

The most successful gardens are not after-school programs. They are teaching tools embedded directly into curriculum.

When teachers integrate the garden into math, science, social studies, and language lessons, the garden becomes part of school hours—not something “extra” you have to make time for.

This shift in mindset is a game-changer.

👩‍🌾 The Volunteer Myth

Yes, volunteers are lovely. But they are not essential.

You don’t need a dedicated garden committee or a team of parents. You don’t even need a garden club.

What you do need is one teacher and their students. That’s enough.

And for summer upkeep? If your garden is designed well, it can get by with simple, low-tech maintenance just a few times a week. Sometimes, even students heading into high school will help—earning volunteer hours in exchange for watering a couple times a week.

So, What Does It Take?

Let’s strip it down to the core:

1. A Passionate, Grounded Teacher

There’s a difference between a passionate teacher and an overwhelmed one.

The right teacher for a school garden is someone who:

• Wants to teach through the garden

• Believes hands-on learning is essential

• Cares about connection—to nature, to food, to community

• Isn’t overextended with a dozen other programs

• Isn’t trying to be a superhero—just a great teacher

This teacher doesn’t need to be a master gardener. They don’t need fancy tools or a second degree. They just need the right support and vision.

I recently visited the garden of a teacher in my Oasis Classroom program who fits this description perfectly. His garden is still in early stages, but the atmosphere was magic—students engaged, lessons alive, the teacher energized.

This garden will last because it's grounded in purpose, not performance.

Compare that to another teacher I worked with—enthusiastic, but juggling multiple programs at once. Hydroponics here, green wall there, my program somewhere in the mix. She was stretched too thin. Her attention was divided. And at the end of the year, her garden project didn’t progress.

The difference wasn’t effort—it was focus and alignment.

2. Supportive Administration

A passionate teacher can only go so far if leadership isn’t on board.

Administrators don’t need to build the garden—but they do need to clear the path.

The best support looks like:

• Allocating a small budget for basic supplies

• Investing in lesson plans and coaching

• Giving teachers permission to use classroom time for gardening

• Encouraging cross-curricular integration instead of expecting “extras”

The worst thing an administrator can do is assume that because a teacher is excited, they’ll figure it all out alone. That sets teachers up for burnout and failure.

Instead, administrators who treat gardens as a teaching initiative (not a passion project) create lasting success.

3. A Structured Program and Reliable Support

Even the most motivated teacher needs a roadmap.

That’s why my Oasis program includes plug-and-play lesson plans that fit with curriculum, seasonal guidance for planning and harvesting, and coaching to avoid the common pitfalls.

Without a structure, gardens stall.

Without support, teachers quit.

But with a strong framework, even a small corner of the school can become a powerful, learning lab, full of food, medicine, and connection.

How This All Comes Together

Here’s what happens when the right teacher gets the right support:

• The garden is used as a living classroom

• Lessons become more engaging and experiential

• Students connect with food, nature, and one another

• Maintenance becomes manageable, even over summer

• The garden comes back every single year

It’s not a miracle. It’s not a unicorn. It’s a system.

And it works.

Want Help Building Your School Garden the Right Way?

If you’re a teacher ready to bring your curriculum to life…
If you’re an administrator ready to support real learning…
If you’re tired of seeing gardens start and fail…

Let’s talk.
Because building a successful school garden isn’t hard—when you know what it really takes.

🟢 Learn more about my Oasis School Garden Programs here.
🎧 Or listen to the full podcast episode here.

Leila Mireskandari
Permaculture Designer & School Garden Coach
Founder of Kids Growing City & the Oasis Programs
Host of School Gardens with Ease podcast