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It's a hot summer day, and the water spigot is a hub of activity in the garden. Hands are washed, vegetables are scrubbed, faces are sprayed, and nearby plants are watered. Later, there may be a round of "water limbo" or impromptu running through the sprinkler.
For students who are initially skeptical about spending time in the garden, water can be familiar and inviting. Getting wet on a sunny day is fun, and giving water to garden plants is often a favorite activity that ends with a sense of pride in helping things grow. Helping students interact with water in the garden can create memories that keep kids coming back again and again.
Water games and watering cans not only invite kids to participate in the garden on multiple levels, but also create teachable moments that make water conservation tangible and personally meaningful to young gardeners. Watering plants one by one can bring up questions such as: 'How do you water plants correctly?' (near the roots!) and 'How much water do plants need?' (about 1" per week for most vegetables). The desire to water plants after a rainstorm can get kids thinking about the weather and its impact on the garden. Rain barrels, drip irrigation, rain gardens, or even remembering to turn off the hose can start conversations about water as a natural resource to be valued and cared for.
The garden is a living gateway to lessons, both formal and informal, about water and water conservation. We hope this newsletter serves as a starting point! We would love to see pictures or hear ideas of how water plays a role in your school garden, too - contact us any time!
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Water Education and Conservation Brief
Water is an essential component of any garden. Attention to its use in a school garden offers opportunities for stewardship, education and fun. This brief provides an overview of how water conservation and education can be integrated into school gardens. It includes types of irrigation systems for your garden, strategies for water conservation, water education activities for the classroom and the garden, ideas for making water fun, and links to relevant resources.
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Project WET - Water Education for Teachers - sets the standard when it comes to water education. Project WET provides water education resources, including a Curriculum and Activity Guide for educators around the world. Posters, kids' activity booklets, and other resources are also available via their Water Education Portal. To receive the Curriculum and Activity Guide, educators must attend a Project WET Training. Retzer Nature Center in Waukesha will host a Project WET training on August 18 - see the Events section for more details!
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Rain Garden Manual
This guide to designing, installing, and maintaining backyard rain gardens is the perfect scale for many school gardens. Rain gardens help conserve water by allowing water collect and slowly soak into the ground nearby, instead of running off into storm drains or parking lots. Once set up, they are relatively easy to maintain and provide a wonderful learning station, in addition to adding beauty and interest to your garden.
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Rain Barrel Guide
A nearby building, shed, or pavilion may be the perfect location for a rain barrel, allowing you to collect rainwater and fill watering cans at a later date. This guide provides a nice tutorial on building your own rain barrel. You can also purchase a rain barrel kit to turn almost any large container into a rain barrel. (This kit from EarthMinded is available via both Home Depot and Amazon.) Many gardeners wonder whether rain barrel water is safe for use on edible plants. While the answer may depend on your roof location and type, we found this study and this article to be helpful guides.
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Drip Irrigation Education & Supplies
Drip irrigation is an effective way to provide much-needed moisture right where plants need it most - at the roots. It also helps save on water loss from evaporation, and is a unique way to teach about water conservation. Although up front costs can be larger than other watering techniques, equipment can be used year after year. DripWorks is a great company for drip irrigation beginners. They offer excellent educational resources, including this drip irrigation planning guide. They also offer a 10% discount to schools for most orders over $50. (Speak with a customer service representative to access the discount.)
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Educating Young People About Water Curricula Database
This online database provides assistance for developing a community-based, youth water education program. These resources target youth and link educators to key community members to build partnerships to meet common water education goals. Users are encouraged to forge links with community partners and identify community or school-ground natural settings where students can practices and reinforces skills taught in the classroom.
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