Article: The feasibility of school gardens as an educational approach in Greece: a survey of Greek schools Journal: International Journal of Innovation and Sustainable Development (IJISD) 2016 Vol.10 No.2 pp.141 - 159 Abstract: This study attempts to research, if Greek schools have comprehended the value of using school gardens, in their efforts to promote responsible environmental awareness. Twenty-seven Greek schools were selected to participate, owing to their high interest in environmental education programs. Studies have shown that a school garden has several benefits for those students who are involved with garden maintenance. Teachers, who teach in these schools, confirm that students of Greek schools, who participate in programs integrating a garden, have enjoyed many benefits and have exhibited a strong environmental consciousness. Teachers, who were interviewed, stressed the fact that school gardens are feasible educational approaches for the Greek school system, underlying the value of the gardens as educational tools that promote positive behavioural results and enforce environmental knowledge. Teachers in schools without gardens expressed as their main difficulty in getting one, the lack of in-service training and availability of funding. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: The feasibility of school gardens as an educational approach in Greece: a survey of Greek schools

Authors: Valentina Plaka; Constantina Skanavis

Addresses: Department of Environment, University of the Aegean, Research Center of Environmental Communication and Education, University Hill, 81100 Mytilene, Greece ' Department of Environment, University of the Aegean, Research Center of Environmental Communication and Education, University Hill, 81100 Mytilene, Greece

Abstract: This study attempts to research, if Greek schools have comprehended the value of using school gardens, in their efforts to promote responsible environmental awareness. Twenty-seven Greek schools were selected to participate, owing to their high interest in environmental education programs. Studies have shown that a school garden has several benefits for those students who are involved with garden maintenance. Teachers, who teach in these schools, confirm that students of Greek schools, who participate in programs integrating a garden, have enjoyed many benefits and have exhibited a strong environmental consciousness. Teachers, who were interviewed, stressed the fact that school gardens are feasible educational approaches for the Greek school system, underlying the value of the gardens as educational tools that promote positive behavioural results and enforce environmental knowledge. Teachers in schools without gardens expressed as their main difficulty in getting one, the lack of in-service training and availability of funding.

Keywords: school gardens; environmental education; Greece; environmental awareness; sustainable development; innovation; urban agriculture; sustainability; garden maintenance; in-service training; funding availability.

DOI: 10.1504/IJISD.2016.075546

International Journal of Innovation and Sustainable Development, 2016 Vol.10 No.2, pp.141 - 159

Received: 09 Dec 2014
Accepted: 26 Mar 2015
Published online: 28 Mar 2016 *

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Title: The feasibility of school gardens as an educational approach in Greece: a survey of Greek schools

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