Is Your School Missing a Golden Opportunity to Engage and Feed Students?
Every year, schools maintain land that doesn’t support learning, wellbeing, or their budgets as well as it could. Meanwhile, students need more hands-on learning, better food, and time in nature.
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Schoolyards cost money but deliver few educational benefits
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Grocery prices are up nearly 30% over 5 years and students are trying to learn on empty stomachs
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Students spend 1000+ hours inside each year
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Teachers lack time and resources to create outdoor learning spaces
Transform School Grounds into Living Classrooms
In this free online workshop, you’ll learn how to turn underused schoolyards into thriving outdoor classrooms that grow food, support wellbeing, and align with your educational goals; from JK through Grade 12
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Teach ecology, sustainability, and food literacy through real world learning
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Reduce food insecurity with ultra-low cost, high quality food
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Create low-maintenance landscapes that look beautiful
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Align with curriculum goals while getting students outdoors and engaged
Is This Workshop Right for You?
✅ You manage or teach in a school with underused outdoor space
✅ You want to align with curriculum goals through hands-on learning
✅ You're passionate about student wellbeing and outdoor education
✅ You want to reduce food insecurity in your school community
✅ You love practical projects that make a lasting impact
✅ You want to stretch your budget using grant-ready ideas
If you agree with at even one of these, this workshop is for you
Meet Your Instructor:
JD Van Allen is Eden's Refuge's Lead Designer. JD is a professional edible landscape and orchard designer, his mission is to end food insecurity in Eastern Ontario. Having designed systems for backyards, parking lots, and public spaces, he is the perfect guide for your journey. JD believes that each design should be customized to reflect the values of the people who will interact with it, and he loves designs that thrive when neglected!
How to Get Started
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Register for the FREE Workshop
Sign up in seconds and get access to the live event + recording
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Learn Practical, Curriculum-Linked Strategies
Discover how to design and implement school orchards that support education and wellbeing.
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Transform Lives in New Ways
Use what you learn to transform schoolyards into vibrant, low-maintenance ecosystems that feed minds and bodies.
What You'll Learn
✅ How to turn underused schoolyard space into outdoor learning environments
✅ Ways to link orchard design to real-world curriculum goals from JK to Grade 12
✅ Which plants thrive with minimal maintenance and student involvement
✅ How to build ecosystems that teach ecology, food systems, and responsibility
✅ How school orchards support mental health, nutrition, and community engagement
✅ Smart design choices that reduce long-term upkeep and cost
✅ Funding tips, grant alignment, and how to build support from staff and parents
FAQ
How much time will this take from staff?
Our low-maintenance designs require only a few seasonal tasks. We’ll show you how to involve students and volunteers without overwhelming your team.
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What if we don't have gardening experience?
You don’t need any! This workshop walks you through easy-to-follow steps. You’ll learn how to choose plants that thrive with minimal upkeep.
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What does a school orchard cost?
You can DIY for a few hundred dollars. Our pre-designed mini orchards are as little as $2000 installed. A larger project's costs vary.
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Can students be involved?
Absolutely! From planning to planting and right through to harvesting and eating the delicious food!
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What if our space isn't ideal?
While some locations are better than others, something can be done on almost any property.
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Can it be done for us?
Yes. From design through to maintenance, we can handle it all for you. This workshop will focus on equipping you to do it yourselves but we are always excited to partner with schools.
Turn Schoolyards Into Outdoor Classrooms That Feed Minds and Bodies
Most schoolyards sit underused; mowed, maintained, and mostly empty. Some trees don't even have a tree for shade. Meanwhile, food insecurity is rising, and students spend more time indoors than ever. In this free workshop, you’ll learn how to design low-maintenance school orchards that double as outdoor classrooms, supporting real-world learning in science, health, and ecology. Whether you have a small plot or a large green space, this workshop will give you the tools to create a beautiful, productive space that builds community and grows lasting impact.