research on garden efficacy for learning

**E*@aol.com**

Julie -- I don't have a lot of specifics but was coincidentally confronted 
with a similar question recently  (why is the whole school fund raising to 
buy garden tools ? -- K parent). I am a landscape architect who has worked 
very hard for the past decade developing an environmental learning schoolyard 
with several other volunteers at our local elementary school and have been 
involved at other school sites (preschool through high school) designing and 
implementing gardens and natural habitats for learning.  Check 
outdoorclassroom.com ; she posts a nice graphic on content retention by 
various instructional means.  There is also a lab school of the Univ. of Fla. 
(in Jacksonville I think) that has been collecting a lot of data on 
children's learning styles, & content retention. I would suggest you look for 
research data related to "hand-on learning" efficacy. Robin Moore and Sharon 
Stine both have books out related to school gardens but they don't provide 
lots of data such as what you are looking for. It sounds as though your own 
experience is compelling local evidence to continue what you do. Do you have 
test scores that show a difference within your own population? Also, check 
the site for the Smithsonian Institute and USDA garden education initiative  <
A HREF="http://www.nmnh.si.edu/garden/welcome.html">Seeds of Change Garden</A>
  . The National Gardening Association will be opening up kidsgardening.com 
on Feb. 15th  which will have a series of message boards for discussing a 
variety of school garden issues.  <A HREF="http://www.kidsgardening.com/">Welc
ome To Kids Gardening!</A> Research to support the garden efforts is needed. 
I hope your efforts are fruitful!
Ann English 

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