Students can bring in their pennies to pay for seeds, tools, plants, soil additives, or mulch.

Students can be put in charge of writing a proposal to the PTO/PTA for a "mini-grant" to fund the garden.

Earn money and help the environment by collecting returnable containers for their deposit fees.

Have a community fundraising event that raises environmental awareness and funds by selling donated tree seedlings, or flower seeds or bulbs.

Seek donations from local merchants, either in the form of cash or in-kind materials (tools, seeds, plants, mulch, etc.)

Submit a proposal to your local garden club for technical assistance, labor and materials.

Contact garden centers, local nurseries and seed companies for out-of-season materials and discounted tools.

Keep chemical fertilizers, weed killers and insecticides away from students. The best option is to not have any on the school property, using natural methods instead. 

Some students have allergies or reactions to certain plants. Figuring out which students have allergies is no easy task. The fact that allergies change over a lifetime contributes to the challenge. If a student displays signs of allergic reaction (stuffy nose, watery eyes, dark circles around the eyes, etc.), inform the student’s parent/guardian so they can determine if the student should participate in the activities. Medical treatments may allow them to continue. 

Everyone has skin reactions to some plants, such as poison ivy. Other plants cause sickness or death when ingested in part or whole. Some gardeners try to avoid all potentially poisonous plants; unfortunately, that’s nearly impossible. Students should neither be afraid or fooled. It’s important to teach students which plants are safe to eat and touch and to not test the rest. That way they’ll have a strong understanding and respect for the uses of plants. Check your plant encyclopedia for plants with poisonous parts. Here are a few: caladium, monkshood (especially the berries), oleander, poinsettia, rhododendron, bleeding heart leaves and roots, castor bean seeds, English ivy leaves and berries, foxglove leaves and seeds, hydrangea bulbs, leaves and branches, iris stems and rhizomes, larkspur, lily of the valley leaves and flowers, yew berries, and many bulbs including daffodils, narcissus, hyacinths and snowdrop.  

Remember gardening is a form of exercise and some commonsense principles should be kept in mind.  Attention to the proper physical methods of gardening can reduce strains and other injuries.  

It's important to do some sort of warm-up exercises before beginning the heavy work of digging and hauling materials, especially if your classroom has been sitting quietly just prior to gardening. Here are some simple exercises: Upper body twist - stand with hands on hips, slowly turn upper body as far as possible to the left for a count of five.  Turn to the right for a count of five.  Repeat 10 times.  Upper body stretch - stand with your back and arms at your sides, stretch arms straight out in front of you and hold for a count of five.  Return arms to sides.  Repeat ten times.  Now, stretch arms back until shoulder blades touch.  Hold for a count of five.  Return arms to sides.  Repeat 10 times. 

For additional physical safety, use a wheelbarrow or a wagon when transporting tools, equipment and supplies.  Start with the easiest jobs first and spread the hardest physical tasks throughout the work period.

Protect your back.  Use an erect body posture when using long handled gardening tools.  Bend at the knees and hips to life and hold objects, and keep one arm under the object when carrying.  A 5-gallon bucket turned upside down makes a handy stool for sitting. 

To prevent shoulder discomfort, work below should level whenever possible.  If it is necessary to work above shoulder level, do so for very short periods of time.  Alternate or use both arms whenever possible.  It is also important to take frequent rest breaks and stop at the first sign of pain.  

Give students a tool safety orientation at the very start: demonstrate an "arc of safety" for each tool, talk about thinking ahead, and remind them not to throw dirt. 

Organize your work crews so some students dig, while others transport and spread out the materials. This allows them to work different muscle groups, and it makes a bit more "elbow room" for the students working the soil so they may maintain a safe working distance. 

Make sure the tools are the right size for the job. Children working with small spades in the garden and using trowels and buckets can be very efficient when it comes to earth moving, and far safer than when they try to use full-sized shovels and overly heavy wheelbarrows. 

Provide a storage spot for the tools (keeping them all in a bucket and trash can, handle end up, works well), and make sure they are all accounted for at the end of the day. Paint the handles in bright colors so they are easy to find outside.        

Insist that students wear closed-toe shoes and gloves when working in the garden. Gloves protect the skin from abrasions and blisters.

Be sure everyone drinks plenty of water to avoid dehydration.  Where sunscreen and a wide-brimmed hat for sun protection.