ABOUT PITCHFORK                                                                                      

Pitchfork School Garden Design has two main aspects:
a consultation and design process
an activity program


Consultation and Design

Pitchfork's aim is to not only design a beautiful, enjoyable and functional garden space,

but to design systems that take account of the garden's ongoing needs. Kitchen gardens require maintenance including regular watering, planting and replenishment of the soil.

Too many school gardens fail due to the demands of upkeep and other constraints on teachers' time. As schools have different ways of operating, different systems will be suitable for each school and are developed in consultation with the school itself.

The result of this design process is a garden space and systems that are compatible

with a school's ethos.

The consultation and design process will look something like this :

1. Inspect site.  Make an inventory of materials on site that could be used for the garden.

2. Arrive at staff meeting to discuss the school's best options for garden management, composting and watering. 

3. Student consultation to be negotiated with school

4. Garden design presented to school within a fortnight and adjustments made, if necessary.

5. Garden building day planned, parents and school community encouraged to volunteer.

Activity program


Pitchfork involves school students in both the building and planting of the garden at their school. It is important that a school garden is owned by the students and school community alike. The building of the garden usually takes place as a special activity day in which different classes are invited to the garden at different times throughout the day to participate in activities central to constructing the garden. Students not only experience the thrill of transforming an area into a productive garden but have an ongoing investment in the space as something they have played a large part in creating.

Different activities are developed for different year levels and students can have differing degrees of involvement based on their level of interest.