Step 7: Budget & Schedule
Work with your class to develop a budget based on the final design of the project.
Create a document listing the resources and materials you will need to make the project happen (see below for a simple school garden budget worksheet). Research the costs of needed materials by searching online or visiting a local garden center or hardware store. Next, set a realistic and achievable budget that fulfills the goals of the project.
Make a master list of tasks left to be accomplished. Keeping in mind the amount of time your class has to build the project, assign deadlines to each task and then divide the tasks equally. Will the project require ongoing work after it has been built? Schedule and prepare for that work with a written maintenance plan.
Dig in Deeper: Compose a Garden Master and Management plan that builds on the initial proposal. It should include mission and vision statements, an implementation plan, design and planting layout, maintenance plan and financial report.
Resources
- Sample school garden building and maintenance calendar
- School Garden Budget Worksheet (Word document)
- Finance in the Classroom budgeting lessons
- Basics in Building a Budget lesson from Scholastic
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