Characteristics and Roles of School Gardens in Urban Areas of Japan: Perspective of School Managers
Children spend most of their time at school; thus, agricultural experiences (AEs) in school gardens through school organizations are important for children to remain connected to agriculture and nature. Although various studies confirm the tremendous benefits of school gardens, the lack of studies o...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Land |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/3/565 |
| _version_ | 1797610722512863232 |
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| author | Rushi Wang Shigeto Yanai |
| author_facet | Rushi Wang Shigeto Yanai |
| author_sort | Rushi Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Children spend most of their time at school; thus, agricultural experiences (AEs) in school gardens through school organizations are important for children to remain connected to agriculture and nature. Although various studies confirm the tremendous benefits of school gardens, the lack of studies on the characteristics of school gardens and the factors that influence the effectiveness of their AEs is telling. In this study, a questionnaire was developed and sent to the school garden managers of the public elementary schools in an urban area in Japan to analyze the characteristics of school garden and their influencing factors through descriptive analysis and inferential statistics. The results identified the location effects on the type of school gardens: school gardens inside the school are better able to ensure the safety of children but have less connection with the community; school farms outside the school are better able to ensure a place for children to have AEs; schools with both a school garden and farm have a stronger connection to the community than those with only school gardens, however, safety is decreased. In addition, the lack of budget, teachers, supportive policies, and motivation among school garden managers in operating school gardens was noted. Therefore, ensuring government support, coordinating the time of school garden managers, and strengthening the connection and cooperation between elementary schools and local communities are primary issues for consideration in the future. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:18:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6f3e49d9795340e0b053039ada1b6133 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-445X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:18:14Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Land |
| spelling | doaj.art-6f3e49d9795340e0b053039ada1b61332023-11-17T12:06:17ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2023-02-0112356510.3390/land12030565Characteristics and Roles of School Gardens in Urban Areas of Japan: Perspective of School ManagersRushi Wang0Shigeto Yanai1Graduate School of Horticulture, Chiba University, Matsudo 271-8510, JapanGraduate School of Horticulture, Chiba University, Matsudo 271-8510, JapanChildren spend most of their time at school; thus, agricultural experiences (AEs) in school gardens through school organizations are important for children to remain connected to agriculture and nature. Although various studies confirm the tremendous benefits of school gardens, the lack of studies on the characteristics of school gardens and the factors that influence the effectiveness of their AEs is telling. In this study, a questionnaire was developed and sent to the school garden managers of the public elementary schools in an urban area in Japan to analyze the characteristics of school garden and their influencing factors through descriptive analysis and inferential statistics. The results identified the location effects on the type of school gardens: school gardens inside the school are better able to ensure the safety of children but have less connection with the community; school farms outside the school are better able to ensure a place for children to have AEs; schools with both a school garden and farm have a stronger connection to the community than those with only school gardens, however, safety is decreased. In addition, the lack of budget, teachers, supportive policies, and motivation among school garden managers in operating school gardens was noted. Therefore, ensuring government support, coordinating the time of school garden managers, and strengthening the connection and cooperation between elementary schools and local communities are primary issues for consideration in the future.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/3/565school gardenschool farmagricultural experienceelementary schoolgreen school farm program |
| spellingShingle | Rushi Wang Shigeto Yanai Characteristics and Roles of School Gardens in Urban Areas of Japan: Perspective of School Managers Land school garden school farm agricultural experience elementary school green school farm program |
| title | Characteristics and Roles of School Gardens in Urban Areas of Japan: Perspective of School Managers |
| title_full | Characteristics and Roles of School Gardens in Urban Areas of Japan: Perspective of School Managers |
| title_fullStr | Characteristics and Roles of School Gardens in Urban Areas of Japan: Perspective of School Managers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characteristics and Roles of School Gardens in Urban Areas of Japan: Perspective of School Managers |
| title_short | Characteristics and Roles of School Gardens in Urban Areas of Japan: Perspective of School Managers |
| title_sort | characteristics and roles of school gardens in urban areas of japan perspective of school managers |
| topic | school garden school farm agricultural experience elementary school green school farm program |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/3/565 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT rushiwang characteristicsandrolesofschoolgardensinurbanareasofjapanperspectiveofschoolmanagers AT shigetoyanai characteristicsandrolesofschoolgardensinurbanareasofjapanperspectiveofschoolmanagers |