Building a school garden takes a lot of heart, and a fair bit of funding too. At Armstrong Elementary School, our Parents’ Advisory Council (PAC) worked hard to bring the school garden project to life, both by raising funds and coordinating support from generous donors and volunteers.
From the beginning, the PAC committed to building a high-quality garden that would last for many years. This long-term vision meant taking on a large-scale project, with durable materials and professional infrastructure, rather than settling for a temporary setup. It required significant fundraising, planning, and coordination, but the result was worth the effort.
This post outlines the total costs of the project and how it was funded, including both direct expenses and in-kind donations of materials, labor, and services.
How we funded the project
We used a mix of funding sources to cover the cost of building the school garden:
- PAC fundraising campaign funds
- Financial contributions from community members & businesses
- In-kind donations of materials, equipment, and labour
- School garden grants
Thanks to the incredible support from our community, we were able to stretch every dollar and complete a high-quality project that will serve students for years to come. Please see our list of project donors and supporters.
Total cost of the school garden
The total value of the school garden project including supplies, materials, equipment rentals, and contracted work is approximately $50K. The list below shows the estimated cost of each major component.
These figures reflect the typical market value, but some items were generously donated or provided at a discount by local businesses. Because of this support, we didn’t need to raise the full cost amount in cash. Our actual expenses were lower, at about $42K.
We’re also deeply grateful to the many volunteers who gave their time and skills (not to mention their tools and sometimes even supplies). If we had needed to pay for all the construction and installation labor, the project would have cost much more than shown below.
Total Estimated Cost = $49,400
Cost Estimate Breakdown:
- Fencing Contractor: $23,000
- Lumber Mill: $14,000
- Hardware Store: $4,000
- Soil: $3,000
- Fruit Trees: $1,800
- Garden Centre: $1,500
- School District Plumber: $1,200
- Equipment Rentals: $600
- Gravel: $300
Total cash funding of the school garden
AES PAC fundraising campaigns were the main source of funding for the school garden, and were used to fund the ornamental metal deer fence as well as the cost of the lumber for the garden beds. PAC worked to fund the remainder of construction costs through donations and grants. AES PAC applied for over a dozen grants and spoke with over a hundred local businesses to raise the money needed to build long-lasting garden infrastructure. We are extremely grateful to all our donors and supporters.
Total Cash Funding = $42,343.85
Cash Funding Breakdown:
- AES PAC Fundraising Campaigns: $27,893.55
- Community Donations: $6,950.30
- Garden Grants: $7,500.00
The cash totals shown above do not include any in-kind donations of materials, equipment, or labour.
Thank you to our supporters
We are deeply grateful to the many individuals, families, organizations, and businesses who made this project possible. From helping shovel soil to donating thousands of dollars in materials, your support has built something truly special for the students of AES.
The garden is already being used as an outdoor classroom and learning space. We’re so proud of what we’ve built together.