Gardens can improve the quality of life for a school community in many ways.  While this is not a comprehensive list by any means, a School Learning Garden can..

See curriculum in the real world: teaching creatively, most curriculum elements can be taught in a garden space.  Seeing a concept in action (for example an ecosystem) can help to cement students' understanding.

Improve concentration:  mentally, taking students outside can motivate them to participate in activities that they might not try in class.  A garden can be a place where students with different learning styles are more engaged, especially those who learn best by doing.

Relieve stress: maintaining or enjoying the garden or reading a good book in a garden are constructive ways to unwind - teachers and students can connect in a more relaxed way and in a different setting.

Be healthy and active: going outside to use or to maintain the garden gets staff, students and parents more physically active!

Be good stewards: young people today spend time focused on computers, cell phones and the material elements of our society.  Going outside to interact with nature as part of an ongoing garden program can help them to build a positive relationship with nature and understand in better.

Work together: the planning, building and ongoing maintenance of a garden requires many different helping hands - bringing parents, teachers and students together to work in the garden stimulates social interaction and builds team work skills.

Create habitat space, shade and food:  each garden adds to the school grounds by creating shade, providing native plant habitat space or growing organic food for students and the community.

Take pride in the school:  beautifying school grounds creates a sense of pride and can help to increase school spirit.

Transfer knowledge about plants and ecosystems to the community at large: students take what they learn in the garden and share it with their friends and family outside of the immediate school community.