Sometimes going green means putting in the extra effort it takes to live off the fat of the land. More specifically, a school in the UK is actually growing and cooking its own food. In addition to bringing students and teachers back to their hunter-gatherer roots, Slathwaite CofE Junior and Infant School has its own “pond, wildlife area, den and firepit.” This self-sufficient system can help keep the school sustainable by reducing waste from packaging used to preserve processed food, as well as conserving some of the energy used to keep food refrigerated. In addition, the wildlife area and garden can teach children important lessons about preserving the Earth’s natural resources through hands-on education.

School gardens are also pretty prevalent in the US, as evidenced by a quick search on the kidsgardening.org registry. But is your school ready to take the plunge and start your own sanctuary? The scale of your garden will probably depend on the size of your student body, the climate, available space and your budget, but you don’t have to subsist on what you grow or create an expansive wildlife preserve for students to benefit from the experience. Start small and go to the local nursery, buy some seeds and supplies, and have your students grow them. The class can learn about science and personal responsibility from cultivating their own plants, and you may even improve oxygen flow in the classroom. And combined with green school furniture products, you can create a sustainable, healthy environment that potentially leads to getting your school LEED® certified. In any case, every bit of conservation you accomplish can help the environment and ultimately leave a lasting educational impact on the future leaders of the green movement.

(Photo via Morguefile)