Page 146 - School Garden Development Guide - 4th Edition

Support Services / Health Services
While we can all agree that gardens are peaceful places allowing
us to regroup, recharge and re-energize, it is also important to
remember that we share these spaces with wildlife and pollinators.
Though most of the time these creatures will keep to themselves,
sometimes they don’t and accidents do happen. Unfortunately;
for the student that has an allergic reaction to a plant or a sting,
this can be disastrous!

Best Practices
To ensure the safety of all students, we recommend the following:

Permission Slips
Consider collecting signed permission slips from parents at the
beginning of the school year if the intention is to use the garden
as an outdoor learning space.

Allergic Reactions
Either consult with parents or with the school nurse to ensure that
students with specific allergies are identified. This information
allows everyone to be proactive to potential situations as opposed
to being reactive. As a best practice, being familiar with or certified
in first aid is a plus!

Use Walkie Talkies
If available, use Walkie Talkies when you are in the school garden.
This will enable you to communicate with staff and administration
quickly should an unforeseen emergency take place.

Report Nests and Ant Mounds
Whenever you see an ant mound or a wasp/insect nest, please
submit a work order to the Maintenance and Plant Operations
Department immediately. They will make arrangements to
remove these types of pests.

Plant bugs and pests should be dealt with using the approved,
natural methods outlined in the Pest Control area of the
Environmental Conservation Services section of this guide
click here.

th
146 School Garden Development Guide - 4 Edition