How are vegetable gardens used, managed and resourced in Australian primary schools? A mixed-methods study.

BACKGROUND: School gardens are an effective strategy to increase food literacy and to promote healthy eating and environmental health. However, barriers such as inadequate funding, time and training mean that many schools are not able to implement or properly utilise a school garden program. The aim of this study was to examine how school gardens are used, managed, and resourced in Australian primary schools. METHODS: A mixed-methods approach was used, with 111 Australian primary school staff completing an online survey and 13 Victorian primary school teachers participating in a one-on-one interview. The survey included both closed and open-ended questions and an exploratory analysis was conducted with frequencies being reported for key variables. The semi-structured interviews were coded into themes and subthemes based on the interview questions. RESULTS: Ninety per cent of survey participants worked at schools with a food garden, but how they were used and how effectively utilised they were, varied. Responsibility for managing and maintaining the garden was primarily the role of students and classroom teachers in most schools, with some also relying heavily on volunteers. Healthy eating and environmental sustainability were key focus areas of most garden programs, while they also provided learning opportunities for important life and social skills. However, many teachers reported that the garden was not well-integrated into the curriculum. While lack of time and funding were the most commonly reported barriers to effective garden programs, many schools demonstrated resilience by utilising existing community connections and incorporating sustainable practices that reduce costs. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates how school gardens are used, managed and resourced in Australian primary schools. The findings indicate that targeted teacher training, leadership support, community involvement and innovative cost-reducing strategies, could help to maximise the effectiveness of school garden programs. Future research should focus on exploring how the school system can be supported to develop policies and frameworks that enable schools to maintain and expand garden initiatives, as well as determining how different policies, climates and cultural contexts influence school gardens.