A wide range of
produce can be grown so that something is being harvested much of
the year.
Some crops are
simple to grow and have high yields, such as cherry tomatoes or snow
peas.
Growing times are
relatively short, with planting and harvest during the school year.
Many crops can be
started indoors and then transplanted into outdoor beds.
Some individual
plants can be mulched heavily and watered by drip irrigation, cutting
down on weeds.
Cons:
Insect pests and
animals can be a problem and are difficult for schools to address.
Weeds will be a
problem if not mulched heavily, which is difficult to do in row
crops.
Yields are low for
the amount of work involved, and crops must be re-planted often.
Lots of planting bed
preparation needed, sometimes requiring mechanized equipment.
Fruit Orchard (apples or citrus)
Pros:
The easiest type of
garden to have, requiring little care.
Yields are large
for the amount of work involved.
Trees can produce
for 50-100 years or more.
Many superior
varieties unavailable in the supermarket can be grown, and harvest
can stretch between late June and January for apples, and year round
for citrus.
Insect and animal
pests are minimized
Weeds are easily
dealt with by mulching heavily and drip irrigation.
Cheapest to
establish and irrigate.
Cons:
Trees can take two
or three years to start producing, depending on the variety.
Some year’s crops
will be lighter than others (biannual).
Lots of
mulch is initially required (shredder chips is usually the cheapest-
free!) and requires a labor force to spread around.
