School Garden Director’s 2024-2025 Annual Report

Annual Report: School Garden Director
Armstrong Elementary School Parents’ Advisory Council
Reporting Period: June 2024 – June 2025
Submitted by: MJ Duford, School Garden Director

Overview

The 2024–2025 school year marked the design, construction, and inaugural planting of the Armstrong Elementary School Garden. As the School Garden Director, I coordinated this project in collaboration with the AES PAC, school staff, students, local donors, contractors, and community volunteers. The garden was built to support hands-on learning, food literacy, and community engagement.

Key Milestones

Infrastructure planning and procurement (Summer–Fall 2024)

Finalized the school garden layout and design
Sourced and ordered cedar lumber, soil, compost, tools, and irrigation supplies
Coordinated fence installation with a local contractor (fence completed February 2025)

Fundraising and grant writing (Winter 2024-2025)

Collaborated to write grants to fund the project
Secured major donor contributions
Received seed, soil, equipment, and plants from regional businesses

Garden construction and volunteer coordination (Spring 2025)

Organized a large Community Work Party Build Day on April 12, 2025, with over 50 volunteers
Coordinated weekend build sessions in April and May to complete:
- Construction and installation of 12 cedar raised beds
- Filling garden beds with soil and compost
- Assembly of potting benches and utility sinks
- Installation of irrigation lines and fixtures

School-wide planting coordination (Spring 2025)

Procured all seeds, seedlings, soil amendments, and tools requested by each class
Assisted in classroom planting sessions throughout May 2025
Supported teachers with gardening knowledge and select in-garden instruction

Community outreach and celebration (Summer 2025)

Built and maintained relationships with donors, businesses, and community organizations
Published website blog updates, thank-you posts, and social media content to celebrate progress
Preparing for Garden Opening Celebration on June 13, 2025, with ribbon cutting, presentations, and tours

Construction Costs & Funding

The AES 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.

Project costs

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

Project Funding

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.

As of June 11, 2025, the AES Garden Bank Account has a positive balance of approximately $6000 in remaining funds. These funds will be used to install childrens’ seating inside the garden, and potentially for benches around the outside of the garden as well as an overhead welcome sign.

See more details on construction funding and expenses here.

Ongoing Needs and Future Plans

Complete installation of a welcoming arched entrance sign (pending funding)
Install outdoor classroom seating and perimeter benches for student and community use
Develop curriculum programming and storage solutions
Continue fundraising and donor stewardship to support garden sustainability

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.

Closing Notes

It has been a tremendous honour to lead this project. The Armstrong Elementary School Garden is now a vibrant learning space thanks to the collective effort of staff, families, students, and our generous community. I am deeply grateful to all who supported the vision, and I look forward to watching the garden grow in years to come.

Respectfully submitted,