ACTIVITY

Business Plan: Sustainable Community Garden – Part 2

Students design a business plan for a year-round, sustainable school/community garden that generates income and involves local partners.

This Brick is a continuation of Business Plan: Sustainable Community Garden- Part 1. Part 1 needs to be done before one can start Part 2.

Before:

If possible, choose a real nearby space students can imagine transforming into a garden.

1

Looking back at Part 1; What is your business plan so far? Are there questions or new ideas? Talk about this shortly before continueing with the next steps.

2

Community Partnerships: Identify local partners (farmers, garden centres, clubs) and ways to contact them.

Guiding question: Who can support us? What can we offer in return?

3

Volunteers & Engagement: Plan recruitment, roles, and recognition strategies.

4

Launch & Communication: Plan a kick-off event and decide communication tools (posters, newsletter, social media).

Guiding question: What message do we want to share? How often should we update?

5

Harvest & Reinvestment: Plan produce sale and decide how profits will support next year.

Guiding question: What will we sell? How present it? How reinvest the money?

6

Final Business Plan: Combine all sections into a clear plan covering: vision, budget, resources, partnerships, volunteers, communication, harvest, and reinvestment.

Didactic tips:

  • Motivate students to use the Value Compass method throughout the whole process.
  • The method of Setting Future Perspectives also fits this activity well.
  • The Idea Relay method can serve as an inspiring and supporting method for sharing and improving ideas.
  • Stakeholder perspective: Have each group member represent a different stakeholder (e.g. local farmer, school principal, volunteer, customer) when discussing partnerships and communication. This helps students consider different needs and interests.
  • Peer feedback: Before finalising the business plan, let groups exchange plans and provide one strength and one suggestion for improvement.
  • Pitch the plan: End with a 2-minute presentation where groups “pitch” their business plan to the class or a mock panel, encouraging clear communication and justification of their choices.
GreenComp: 4.2 Collective action, 4.3 Individual initiative, 2.3 Problem framing
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InvestigateCreate
THEME:
Nature & biodiversity
TIME: 45 minutes
AGE: 10-12 years, 13-15 years

SUBJECTS:

  • Nature sciences
  • Social studies
  • Mathematics
  • Mother tongue
  • Home economics

TOOLS / MATERIALS:

  • Paper / whiteboard
  • Writing materials
  • Laptop

METHODS:

RESOURCES: