IT'S TIME TO GET GROWING!

New Gardens: Please start at Step 1 and read all the steps below.

Existing Gardens: Please skip to Step 2.

Step 1: IDENTIFY GARDEN TYPE

If you do NOT currently have a garden, IDENTIFY the type of garden you wish to begin.

If you are ensure of this, we are happy to provide OCPS Grow to Learn Garden Guide to help you lead you through choosing and maintaining the garden that is right for your school and goals in the garden. Finding the right fit to your school community is pertinent for the success of your long term gardening aspirations.

Step 2: REGISTER GARDEN WITH DISTRICT 

This is REQUIRED and will be helpful in obtaining support and resources as you grow. Please select the form that best applies to what you are needing, only submit one.

• New Garden Install Location Registration and Assessment
• Garden Expansion Location Registration and Assessment
• Garden Relocation Registration and Assessment
• Tree(s) Install Location Registration and Assessment

If needed, expect a 2-week response period from OCPS Grounds to schedule a school visit. Your needs will be made known from the responses provided in completed from.

Step 3: IMPLEMENTATION OF PLAN

We are here to support you and the community. Please let us know any thing you need or hope for. Together, we can do hard things. If you would like help in learning how to use your garden as an outdoor classroom resource, email amy.shova@ocps.net.  

Step 4: SUSTAIN YOUR GARDEN

As your garden grows and changes, be sure to seek out advice and help from the OCPS Sustainability Office. Also, for any modificaitons or additions, be sure to alert your OCPS Grounds Landscape Supervisor. This staff member can help ensure OCPS grounds staff do not cut or spray near your garden area, to protet your plants.

Always CC Grounds.Maintenance@ocps.net and sustainability@ocps.net when contacting your regional supervisor:

Pacer Holley, NW Landscaping Supervisor 407-317-3718 x2025480 Pacer.Holley@ocps.net
Joshua Turner, SO Landscaping Supervisor 407-317-3718 x2025006 Joshua.Turner@ocps.net
Anthony Short, NE Landscaping Supervisor 407-317-3718 x2025364 anthony.short@ocps.net

We recommend printing and posting signs to designate your school garden area as well. 

If you need assistance locating vendors for specific items (plant orders, soil orders, etc), please email sustainability@ocps.net to request information on recent vendors who have been effecitve. 

Getting Started:

Use our Month-by-Month Gardening Guide to help you in the garden. It is full of timely tips and great resources that will hopefully give you more time in the garden and less time looking for solutions. OCPS Grow to Learn Garden Guide is a great resource to support you and your goals in the garden through the year. 

University of Florida has created beautiful Monthly Classroom Infographics for Gardening that are great ways to make planning for the garden and observations in nature simple.

Classroom Learning in the Garden:

Are you wondering how to reinforce your lesson in the garden? Please see below resources outlining applicable benchmarks that may be learned in the garden. If you would like support in planning garden lessons or obtaining resources for specific benchmarks, please email sustainability@ocps.net.  

• Elementary School Scope & Sequence 
• Middle School Scope & Sequence coming soon
• High School Scope & Sequence coming soon

Garden Support Request:

Are you looking for resources for your school's garden? Do you have an existing garden with needs? Do you want to schedule a visit? Please fill out this Garden Support Request Form.