Granny’s Garden School’s outdoor classrooms offer a creative and environmentally interactive approach to teach curriculum standards. Each participating classroom is assigned a garden that is theirs to plant, harvest and maintain. Rather than develop yet another curriculum, our program connects state curriculum standards with hands-on garden and nature trail lessons that are tailored to the unique educational requirements in each grade from kindergarten through fourth grade.  From there, we develop a calendar that integrates the seasonal needs of the gardens (planting and care) with the curriculum map that shows when related topics will be taught in each grade. 

We further support our teachers by coordinating our program’s lessons and activities to the classroom teaching schedule.  Our students learn by questioning, doing, and observing.  We make it possible for the teachers to spend time outside by using the process of growing flowers and vegetables and exploring the nature trail to support the curriculum already set down by the school district. 

Granny’s Garden School operates independently of and is financially independent of the school system. We were established as a 501 (c) (3) non-profit in March 2006.  We collaborate with the school district to provide environmental education for Loveland’s students.  In the past Granny’s Garden School has relied on grants, fundraisers, corporate and private financial and material donations to raise operating capital funds.  We are now researching non conventional methods for growing plants and taking steps to develop a social enterprise that will add an educational component to fundraising and reduce our dependency on outside funding. 

We offer an annual training camp for educators the last week in June.  Email us if you would like to be considered for the next camp.

One of the strengths of the organization is the ability to "think outside of the box"; to see opportunities that translate into publicity for the organization, the development of innovative programs or ways to attract volunteers. The first two years, the program was all volunteer.  As it grew from a grassroots effort to an established organization, Granny’s Garden School has hired staff to fill critical positions.  We have become quite adapt at making use of what is at hand, as well as securing in-kind donations and spend little funds on supplies.  We believe in putting out money into our staff – not stuff.