Developing Garden Program Goals Using Logic Models

We can be so eager to get a garden-based project started, that our first instinct is to gather plant material, till the soil, add compost and plant.  Though many gardeners find success in that approach in their own gardens, a well thought-out planning process is key to maximizing successful outcomes in a school or community garden.

Middle schoolers in the garden

If you have already started a community or school gardening program, the resources and approaches offered in this week's activities will help you evaluate what you have done so far, and consider planning tools you may not have included the first time around.

Here are some questions you will explore more deeply as you go through this week's planning exercises:  

  • What are your program and/or educational goals? 
  • What outcomes (nutrition or environmental awareness, learning achievements, etc) are priorities with your target audience?
  • What strategies or techniques might help you achieve desired outcomes?
  • Who might you collaborate with? 
  • What activities might you use to engage stakeholders?

Your response to these questions will be the building blocks of your program planning process. They will help you define the purpose of your program and your target outcomes. 

Adapted from Cornell Garden Based Learning, https://gardening.cals.cornell.edu

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