New World Survival · Community Gardens
School Garden Planning & Continuity Workbook
Use this workbook before construction, during the school year, before summer break and at annual handoff. A checked box means the evidence exists, not merely that someone intends to create it.
Use with: The Definitive School Garden Guide: Build It, Teach With It and Keep It Alive. This workbook does not replace school-district policy, local health requirements, environmental review or accessibility guidance.
1. Program identity
| School | | School year | |
|---|
| Garden name | | Revision date | |
|---|
| Accountable program owner | | Backup | |
|---|
| Administrative sponsor | | Facilities contact | |
|---|
One-sentence purpose
What students should be able to do
2. Approval record
| Question | Approving role/office | Status | Date / evidence location |
|---|
| Use of site | | | |
| Digging / construction | | | |
| Water / irrigation | | | |
| Storage / fencing / signs | | | |
| Volunteer access | | | |
| Produce tasting / food use | | | |
| Summer campus access | | | |
3. Team and backup map
| Function | Primary | Backup | Where records/access are kept |
|---|
| Instruction | | | |
| Garden operations | | | |
| Facilities / water | | | |
| Food safety / nutrition | | | |
| Summer care | | | |
| Volunteers | | | |
| Budget / purchasing | | | |
4. Candidate site and environmental record
| Candidate | Visibility / access | Sun / drainage | Water | Site-history concern | Decision |
|---|
| A | | | | |
| B | | | | |
| C | | | | |
☐ Site history investigated☐ Nearby land uses considered☐ Utility locating completed before digging☐ Drainage/runoff reviewed☐ Soil fertility question addressed☐ Environmental contaminant question addressed separately☐ Animal access considered☐ Facilities/grounds review completed
Hold: If credible environmental contamination concerns remain unresolved, do not let students disturb the soil or grow food directly in it.
5. Water and materials record
| Item | Finding / source | Requirement | Owner |
|---|
| Irrigation source | | | |
| Nonmunicipal testing, if applicable | | | |
| Hose / shutoff / winterization | | | |
| Bed / container materials | | | |
| Compost | | | |
| Fertilizer storage / handling | | | |
| District pesticide/IPM rules | | | |
6. Accessibility and usability walkthrough
☐ Route from building is usable☐ Surface works in expected weather☐ Gates/openings are usable☐ Students can reach growing areas☐ Water can be reached and operated☐ Teaching area accommodates the class☐ Seating/rest options considered☐ Storage does not obstruct routes
Record district accessibility/facilities review rather than relying on a single raised-bed measurement.
Barriers found and corrective action:
7. Student safety and training plan
| Topic | How taught | Who teaches | When repeated |
|---|
| Garden boundaries / supervision | | | |
| Handwashing | | | |
| Closed-toe footwear / clothing | | | |
| Tool carrying and use | | | |
| Heat / weather / hydration | | | |
| What may be tasted | | | |
| Injury / first-aid route | | | |
8. Health, allergy and emergency coordination
| Question | School procedure / contact |
|---|
| Who maintains student allergy information? | |
| How are garden activities reflected in allergy/anaphylaxis plans? | |
| What is the emergency response route from the garden? | |
| How are stings, plant sensitivities or food tastings handled? | |
| What illness exclusions apply to harvesting and food handling? | |
9. Food-safety procedure
☐ Handwashing station/procedure☐ Illness exclusion☐ Cuts/wounds covered☐ Harvest tools cleaned☐ Food-grade harvest containers☐ Animal-contaminated produce rejected☐ Produce washing procedure☐ Refrigeration/storage route☐ Traceability if used in meals☐ Nutrition director/local health review if required
Approved written procedure location / notes:
10. Approved produce pathways
| Use | Approved? | Conditions / responsible role |
|---|
| Observation only | | |
| Supervised classroom tasting | | |
| Send home | | |
| Donation | | |
| School meals / cafeteria | | |
11. Curriculum map
| Garden task | Grade/course | Learning objective / standard | Student evidence | Safety note |
|---|
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
Three repeatable lessons another teacher can run
12. School calendar + crop calendar
| Period | Students/staff present? | Local planting/harvest opportunity | Garden action | Owner |
|---|
| Aug–Sep | | | | |
| Oct–Nov | | | | |
| Dec–Jan | | | | | |
| Feb–Mar | | | | | |
| Apr–May | | | | | |
| Summer | | | | | |
Replace the month groupings if they do not fit the local school year. Use local Cooperative Extension planting guidance rather than a national calendar.
13. Summer / closure plan
| Question | Answer |
|---|
| Chosen summer strategy | |
| Who can access campus? | |
| Who can access water? | |
| Primary duty owner | |
| Backup | |
| Expected watering/inspection rhythm | |
| How missed duty is reported | |
| Condition required before school resumes | |
14. Volunteer plan
| Volunteer role | Screening/approval | Training | Supervision | Access limits |
|---|
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
15. Annual budget
| Item | Current-year budget | Funding source | Recurring? | Owner |
|---|
| Soil/compost/amendments | | | | |
| Seeds/plants | | | | |
| Water/irrigation | | | | |
| Tools/PPE | | | | |
| Bed/path repair | | | | |
| Storage/signage | | | | |
| Food-safety supplies | | | | |
16. Infrastructure and inventory inspection
| Asset | Condition | Problem | Owner | Due date |
|---|
| Water / hoses | | | | |
| Beds / growing areas | | | | |
| Paths / routes | | | | |
| Tools | | | | |
| Storage | | | | |
| Fencing / boundaries | | | | |
| Signs / labels | | | | |
17. Incident and corrective-action log
| Date | Issue | Immediate response | Who was notified | Prevention / follow-up |
|---|
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
18. End-of-year Garden Health Audit
| Domain | Healthy | Watch | Correct | Hold | Evidence / action |
|---|
| Ownership and backups | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | |
| Site / soil / water safety | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | |
| Accessibility and usability | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | |
| Student safety / allergies | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | |
| Food safety / produce use | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | |
| Curriculum use | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | |
| Summer performance | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | |
| Infrastructure / tools | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | |
| Budget / purchasing | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | |
| Records / succession | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | |
19. Annual handoff packet
☐ Current owner and backups☐ Administrative/facilities contacts☐ Site/soil/environment records☐ Water/testing records☐ Food-safety procedure☐ Allergy/health coordination route☐ Curriculum files and lesson links☐ Current crop/calendar plan☐ Summer/closure plan☐ Volunteer records☐ Budget and purchasing process☐ Inventory and repair list☐ Keys/access instructions☐ Lessons learned / unresolved issues
Outgoing program owner / date
Incoming owner or administrator / date
20. Final readiness decision
| Decision | Use when | Our status |
|---|
| Proceed | Core safety, ownership, operations and continuity questions are resolved. | |
| Investigate | A material question remains unanswered but can be resolved before use. | |
| Modify | The concept is viable but the design, crop calendar or operating plan must change. | |
| Hold | A safety, approval, food-use or accountability condition prevents responsible operation. | |
Controlling unresolved question and next action: