At Vancouver Montessori School, gardening is part of daily life. By planting, nurturing, and harvesting, children discover their connection to nature while also learning about food security, sustainability, and responsibility.

Preschool Gardening

Our preschool and extended-day classes nurture a love of nature through small, hands-on projects. Each class cares for a planter box outside their classroom, plants potatoes, and raises caterpillars to observe the transformation into monarch butterflies, which they later release into the wild.

These experiences give children an early appreciation of life cycles, responsibility, and the interconnectedness of the natural world.

Elementary Gardening

Every day, small groups of elementary students visit the garden to care for medicinal plants, vegetables, herbs, and flowers. Each week, a different class sends a group so all students get a turn.

Contact with the elements of nature and gardens adds to their understanding of the challenges and successes that come with food production.

They learn by doing: preparing soil, planting seeds, weeding, watering, and observing the natural growth process. Exploring organic gardening methods, students develop hands-on skills while also building an appreciation for healthy food systems.

The Farmer’s Market

A highlight of the program is the annual Farmer’s Market. Students help bring the garden to the school community by harvesting crops, creating posters, and setting up the market.

On the day of the event, they sell items and keep track of the money and produce that are left, experiencing the full process of running a small market. The money raised goes directly back into the gardening program, supporting projects such as worm composting and garden expansion.

These experiences cultivate more than gardens: they nurture a sense of responsibility, creativity, and a lasting respect for the natural world.