Plan a Community Garden - Grow Local A Problem based Learning Project The Challenge: Your town is encouraging residents to "Grow Local". They are allowing residents to use one acre of land to plant a community garden. The idea is to grow your own herbs, berries and vegetables. Locally grown food avoids using gasoline to transport them long distances. You enjoy the goodies fresh from the vine. In some cases, a few seeds can yield lots of delicious herbs, berries or vegetables. You save a lot of money compared with buying them in the store. The gardeners can decide whether or not to use pesticides or fertilizers. It also empowers people grow things that are not sold at the big box stores. Offer some advice/suggestions about the best herbs and vegetables to grow in your area.

Step 1 -	Identify what you know about growing vegetables and herbs in your community.
Step 2 -	Identify what you need to discover. Be specific. Make a list. Get digging for information - Learn how to research elementary | middle school & high school Are you working in a group? Assign the group member who is to find each answer or fact. Everyone will be researching info. (how to work as a group) Tech Tip: Working in a group or in two different places like the library & home? You do not have to be physically together to work together. Watch Google Docs video TAI - How could you use free, Google Docs to do a project? How would this facilitate group projects?
Step 3 -	As a group - Discuss your findings. Make a list of vegetables and herbs that might be suitable for growing in a community garden.
Step 4 -	Create a tri fold pamphlet for 5 vegetables and 1 herb which gives some facts and some advice about growing it. Why should it be grown? Proof the project. It is funny how speling errors and typeos sneeck in to the bets work.
Extra:	Set the rules for the garden. There are many questions and concerns to consider in running a community garden. Develop a plan & budget. Be sure to include a few reasonable rules and courtesies. How do you suggest the planners divide up the acre of land? Who maintains the garden? Who pays for the seeds or seedlings? Who should get the vegetables when the crops are harvested?