This festive morning marked the start of the installation of 28 Taste Gardens at primary schools in Gelderland. Until 2028, IVN Nature Education will realize Taste Gardens together with schools, co-financed by us. Gelderland schools interested in a Taste Garden on their square can still register via Gelderland Taste Gardens - IVN
‘This is the best day ever!’ says student Stan
Educational and green
A Taste Garden is a small, contiguous grove of 30 m², consisting of edible plants, shrubs, and trees. Like in a food forest, Taste Gardens consist of 5 types of plants: ground covers, low plants, shrubs, climbing plants, and trees. Through the Taste Garden, children learn playfully how food grows and why a Taste Garden on the schoolyard contributes so much to nature. They help plant, maintain, and harvest fruits, nuts, vegetables, and herbs. They discover how different plants taste and which parts can be eaten. The Taste Garden also includes teaching materials, which Kindcentrum De Fontein will use themselves.
A taste garden to enjoy
During the planting day, the children enthusiastically rolled up their sleeves. After a short explanation, the children were allowed to put the young plants in the ground: from the well-known apple and almond trees to tasty but less known herbs such as cola herb and good king henry. Apples were roasted over a fire so the children could already enjoy what will soon grow in their Taste Garden.
And what do the students think of their own Taste Garden? “This is the best school day ever!” sounds from the group. Student Stan says: “I have already planted 6 plants! The first was an apple tree. I will take extra good care of it and water it because apple is my favorite fruit.” Deputy Harold Zoet is also enthusiastic about the garden.
The Taste Garden project combines several provincial goals
First of all, children learn in a playful and accessible way how food grows and which plants or fruits can be eaten. Additionally, we green schoolyards with groves, which is good for biodiversity, capturing heavy rainfall, and providing more shade on hot days. A great initiative that we wholeheartedly support!
Gelderland Deputy for Nature and Agriculture
Taste Gardens throughout Gelderland
Between 2018 and 2021, we invested over €5.1 million in making schoolyards greener. Thanks to this subsidy, 266 schools – about one-third of all primary schools in Gelderland – received a green and climate-friendly playground. This not only strengthened biodiversity but also created a healthy and playful learning environment for thousands of children. More and more schools and childcare locations want to green their outdoor spaces: good for the students and good for nature! As a follow-up, IVN Nature Education received financial support from us for the installation of 28 Taste Gardens on schoolyards from 2025 to 2028. The installation of Taste Gardens is an accessible form of greening schoolyards.
