Full Description
Schoolyards have come a long way from the barren playgrounds that many people remember. Today's school campuses often feature gardens in which students can learn about native plants and wildlife, grow vegetables and fruit, explore cultural traditions, practice reading and math skills, and use their imaginations to create fun play spaces. And for a growing number of urban students, these schoolyard gardens offer the best, if not the only, opportunity to experience the natural world firsthand and enjoy its many benefits.
This book is a practical, hands-on guide for creating a variety of learning environments in the arid Southwest. Filled with clear, easy-to-use information and illustrated with photographs, drawings, and plans, the book covers everything necessary to create schoolyard gardens:
An introduction to schoolyards as outdoor classrooms and several types of habitats, including art gardens, cultural history gardens, ecological gardens, literacy gardens, and vegetable gardens
Design theory, including a history of garden styles, and design principles and design elements
Beginning the design process, including identifying participants and writing a design program that sets out goals and requirements
Conducting site research and synthesizing design elements to arrive at a final design
Design essentials, including project funding and design features, maintenance, accessibility, safety, and project evaluation and revision
Wildlife ecology, including elements needed for survival such as food and shelter
Creating gardens for pollinators and other wildlife, including hummingbirds, butterflies, bees, moths, bats, and flies, as well as pest control
Lists of native plants for various kinds of habitats and nurseries that sell native plants, as well as books, web sites, and other resources for learning more about native plants and wildlife
This guide will be essential for landscape architects, school personnel, parents, and students. Indeed, its principles can be used in designing schoolyard habitats across the country, while its information on gardening with native plants and wildlife will be useful to homeowners across the Southwest.
Contents
Preface
Acknowledgments
Introduction by Kim Duffek
About This Book
Making Outdoor Classrooms a Reality
The Need for Wildlife Habitat and Native Gardens
Bioregions of the Arid Southwest
Chapter 1: Schoolyards
The Schoolyard as an Outdoor Classroom
Overview of Schoolyard Environments
Introduction
History of Playground Design with Applications for Contemporary Playground Design
Nature and Play
Adult Memories of Valued Play Places
Implications for Design
Learning and the Natural Outdoor Classroom
Schoolyard Garden Types
Art Gardens
Cultural History Gardens
Ecological Gardens
Literacy Gardens
Vegetable Gardens
Chapter 2: Design Theory
Introduction
History of Garden Styles
Prehistoric "Gardens" (20,000-3300 BC)
Ancient Egyptian Gardens (3300-500 BC)
Ancient Mesopotamian (3500-538 BC), Sumerian (3500-900 BC), Assyrian (900-625 BC), and Neo-Babylonian (611-538 BC) Gardens
Ancient Persian Gardens (539-331 BC)
Ancient Greek Gardens (700-136 BC)
Ancient Roman Gardens (510 BC- AD 476)
Ancient Chinese Gardens (1600 BC- AD 1279)
Japanese Gardens (AD 575-1600)
Medieval European Gardens (AD 476-1350)
Islamic (Moorish) Gardens, Spain (AD 700s-1400s)
Italian Renaissance Gardens (AD 1350-1765)
French Grand-Style Gardens (AD 1495-1750)
English Romantic Gardens (AD 1715-1840)
Spanish Colonial Gardens (AD 1492-mid-1700s)
Colonial and Early American Gardens (AD 1630-1840)
American Romantic Gardens (AD 1830-1930)
Victorian Gardens (AD 1820-1900)
Classical Beaux-Arts Gardens (AD 1893-1930)
Modern Gardens (AD 1930-late 1970s)
Postmodern and Contemporary Gardens (AD mid-1970s-present)
Design Fundamentals
Design Principles
Design Elements
Chapter 3: Beginning the Design Process
Introduction
A Design Process for Planning Outdoor Classrooms, Wildlife Habitats, and Gardens
Identify Participants
Write a Design Program
Conclusion
Chapter 4: Site Research and Design Synthesis
Review and Evaluate Previous Steps
Site Research
Site Selection
Site Inventory
Site Analysis
Design Synthesis
Conceptual Design
Zones, Spaces, Design Features, and Spatial Sequencing
Circulation Patterns
Testing Design Concepts
Preliminary Design
Final Design
Chapter 5: Design Essentials
Introduction
Project Funding
Grants and Cash Donations
In-kind Donations
Organization of the Fund-raising Process
Design Features
Earthworks
Ponds
Plants
Shade Structures
Storage Areas
Pathways
Seating
Walls
Signs
Maintenance
Weeding
Fertilization
Pruning
Bird Feeders and Bird Baths
Accessibility
Requirements
Safety
Project Evaluation and Revision
Outdoor Classroom and Schoolyard Habitat Assessment Criteria
Chapter 6: Ecological Principles and Wildlife by Kim Duffek
Introduction to Wildlife Ecology
Elements for Survival
Food Resources
Water Availability
Providing Shelter
Space to Survive
Pollinator Gardens and Wild Visitors
Introduction
Hummingbird Gardens
Butterfly Gardens
Bee Gardens
Moth Gardens
Bat Gardens
Fly Gardens
Wildlife Gardens
Completing the Web
Pest Control
Decomposition
Unwanted Visitors
Seeds for Thought
Words of Inspiration
Appendix: Regional Plant Tables by Kim Duffek
References and Additional Reading
