Gulp is right! That's quite a project you are taking on :-) I think your first order of business is to map out the area you have to work with and determine the square footage - that will lead you to determine the size of the necessary beds and other accoutrements. You need to allow sufficient space between the beds for access (3' minimum) and so that adequate sunlight will reach them and they get proper air circulation. Aligning the beds on a north-south access will maximize the amount of sunlight each receives.

Check out this link: http://www.csgn.org/pdf/GFL_5.pdf.
It discusses various aspects of school garden design you might find helpful.

Charlene,

This sounds very challenging, but very fun! Unfortunately, the only idea that I am able to contribute is to incorporate a dry erase board or flip chart in the outdoor classroom.

Have fun with this. I am sure it will "blossom" as you work through all the stages.

Kelly

Check out the Square Foot Gardening website. I know they do this in a lot of schools around the country. Since you are already building raised beds, SFG sounds like its a good fit.

Oh- and a typical SFG bed is 4 feet wide if it can be accessed from both sides or two feet wide if it has access on only one side. The idea is that the bed should never be deeper than you can reach to the center on either side. Since you are working with kids, you might want to decrease that to 3' wide if accessible on both sides or 1 1/2 feet wide if only one side is. Length is less important.

The newest version of the book (out last year) has some good photos that show how to build the raised beds. Here's Mel's website.

Disclaimer: I have done some volunteer work with the SFG Foundation so I am a little biased to this method.

Thanks everyone!

Gardengal-you're so right--my first task is to define and map out the areas. It's freezing cold and supposed to snow so that'll have to wait until next week!

Kelly-Great idea for a chalk or white board. I'll have to see if I can come up with a water proof version.

Bindersbee-I've been to the SFG website many times and would like to get that new book soon. I sort of do square foot gardening with extensive planting in raised beds in my own garden. My son (9yrs) was excited at the possibility of each student having their own square to plant. The problem I foresee is that each class will have their own bed which in our zone will be planted in April/May and then school gets out and after summer they all have a new class/garden bed in August. So the kids will be split up from their square. hmmm.

All of my begging this week to local businesses has paid off as I got an email this week from a renowned landscape designer in the Denver area who will meet me at the school for one hour (at no charge!) on April 18th to help me with the design and to map out the perimeters! Woohoo!

Thanks again.

Charlene

You might want to consider planting some native plants. There are many non-profits who are willing to contribute to naturescape plantings.

Our community is doing something similar with a ravine that runs through our neighborhood.

We have been able to secure native seedlings from the horticultural program at a local college, free mulches/compost from the city, small grants for plants, etc, from the city as well as Evergreen and a couple other organizations.

I would think such a plan would also fit in nicely with the philosophy of the school, from what you have described.

Have fun. It's going to be a ton of work, but very rewarding!