School Gardens with Ease – Détails, épisodes et analyse

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Let's welcome Lauren MacLean, a passionate children's author, educator, and outdoor learning consultant. Lauren’s books, including Me and My Sit Spot and Finding Common Ground, inspire young readers to connect with nature, and her work as an educator brings hands-on outdoor experiences into the classroom.

Lauren shares insights on integrating school gardens into the curriculum and offers practical tips for teachers looking to overcome common barriers, such as finding time for outdoor education. She explains how she creatively weaves subjects like math, science, and social studies into outdoor learning, making the garden a year-round, interactive classroom. Lauren’s journey from a former field hockey athlete to a teacher passionate about outdoor education highlights her commitment to fostering environmental stewardship among young learners.

Lauren also introduces her new book, Sitting with Nature: An Educator's Guide to Sit Spots, a comprehensive resource filled with weekly prompts and lesson ideas to engage students in nature-based activities.

Topics Covered:

• Lauren’s inspiring transition to outdoor education and how mentors influenced her teaching approach
• Practical advice on using school gardens to meet curriculum requirements in various subjects
• Addressing teachers' common concerns, like scheduling outdoor time and managing behavior in outdoor settings
• The concept of "sit spots" and how repeated visits to natural spaces build deeper connections to nature
• How Lauren's books bring the magic of nature into classrooms and homes
• The upcoming virtual launch for Sitting with Nature on November 26th—an event for teachers interested in outdoor education

Resources and Links:

• Lauren MacLean’s Website: Teach Outdoors
• Me and My Sit Spot - Amazon
• Finding Common Ground - Amazon
• Sitting With Nature: An Educator’s Guide to Sit Spots - Outdoor Learning Store

Connect with Lauren:

• Website: teachoutdoors.ca
• Join the virtual book launch on November 26th to celebrate Sitting with Nature!

Subscribe & Follow:
Don’t forget to subscribe to School Gardens with Ease and check out more resources on bringing gardens and nature into the classroom!

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Build a Resilient School Garden with Hugelkultur!
In this episode, Leila shares an innovative and regenerative gardening technique that can make your school garden more resilient, water-conserving, and low-maintenance — hugelkultur! 

Leila discusses how this permaculture technique, which involves creating a raised garden bed with a foundation of buried wood, can significantly reduce summer maintenance needs and provide long-term benefits to both the garden and the learning experience. Hugelkultur is not only water-efficient and nutrient-rich, but it also extends the growing season, supports local wildlife, and serves as a hands-on educational tool for students. This episode provides a step-by-step guide to building a hugelkultur bed with your students and highlights how this method can make your school garden more self-sustaining.

Topics Covered:

1. What is Hugelkultur?
   • Definition and translation of "hugelkultur" (mound or hill culture).
   • How to create a raised garden bed using layers of wood topped with soil.
2. Benefits of Hugelkultur Gardens:
   • Water Conservation: Wood in the bed acts like a sponge, retaining water and reducing the need for frequent watering.
   • Nutrient-Rich Soil: Over time, the decomposing wood enriches the soil, eliminating the need for additional fertilizers.
   • Extended Growing Season: Heat from the decomposing wood helps keep the soil warmer, allowing plants to thrive for longer in colder climates.
   • Biodiversity and Wildlife Support: Hugelkultur beds attract beneficial woodland wildlife and mushrooms, enhancing the ecosystem around the garden.
   • Resilience and Low Maintenance: Fewer watering requirements and built-in nutrients reduce the need for summer maintenance.
3. Science and Educational Value:
   • Opportunities for teaching students about natural water cycles, soil health, decomposition, and biodiversity.
4. Practical Considerations:
   • Recommended wood types (avoid chipped wood, willow, and black walnut).
   • Where to source whole, dead wood for building the bed.
   • Tips for constructing a stable, tidy hugelkultur bed with students.

Resources Mentioned:

• Guide to Building a Hugelkultur Garden with Students
• Oasis School Program, which includes step-by-step gardening lesson plans and resources:

https://www.kidsgrowingcity.ca/links-oasis-programs

• Guide to Setting Up a Watering Chest for Summer Maintenance 

Don’t Miss Out:
Leila shares her personal experience with hugelkultur and how it transformed her approach to school gardens. This episode is packed with practical advice and educational insights that will make your school garden setup a breeze!

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In this episode of School Gardens with Ease, Leila shares creative and engaging gardening activities perfect for fall and winter.
Even without an outdoor garden, you can bring greenery and food-growing projects into your classroom with low-cost, hands-on activities.
Learn about seed stratification, making seed balls, growing microgreens, and more!
These activities are fun, educational, and easy to integrate into your lessons, keeping students connected to nature year-round.

Download the accompanying checklist for all the activities mentioned in this episode:
https://www.kidsgrowingcity.ca/fall-and-winter-gardening-checklist-for-classrooms

And here's Leila's complete course with step by step Lesson Plans, Student Booklets, and Classroom Wall posters plus an optional supplies delivery for Greater Toronto Area schools on this very topic:
https://www.kidsgrowingcity.ca/oasis-fall-and-winter-indoors-2024

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In this final installment of our series on pitching your annual vegetable school garden, we're diving deep into two essential topics that will take your garden proposal to the next level: cost-effective garden design and budgeting strategies.

Join Leila Mireskandari as she reveals powerful permaculture design techniques, like Hugelkultur and sheet mulching, that can transform your school garden into a regenerative, water-conserving powerhouse—all while staying within budget. Learn why curvy, natural garden designs outperform traditional straight rows and discover how to source materials like wood and soil for free or at minimal cost.

Leila also tackles the crucial aspect of budgeting for your garden project. From seeds and soil to the often-overlooked need for high-quality lesson plans, she breaks down exactly what you need to include in your budget to ensure your garden is both educational and sustainable. Plus, find out which commonly purchased garden items are a complete waste of money and what to invest in instead.

Don't miss this episode if you're ready to pitch a school garden project that impresses funders, engages students, and keeps costs low!

Key Takeaways:

• Why you should embrace natural curves in your garden design.
• How Hugelkultur can drastically reduce your garden's water needs and build rich soil over time.
• The benefits of sheet mulching and how it can save you from digging up grass.
• Essential items to include in your garden budget—and what to avoid.
• The critical role of lesson plans in making your garden a true educational experience.

Links & Resources:

• Download the summary PDF of this 5-episode series [Link in show notes].
• Learn more about the Oasis Series programs for ready-to-use lesson plans, student booklets, and classroom wall posters: https://www.kidsgrowingcity.ca/links-oasis-programs
• Guide to setting up a watering chest for your garden: https://www.kidsgrowingcity.ca/offers/c5FtFUCe/checkout
• Hugelkultur Guide:
  https://www.kidsgrowingcity.ca/offers/8WLA6Gpd/checkout
• Contact Leila at Leilam@kidsgrowingcity.ca for personalized advice or questions.

Subscribe & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review! Your feedback helps us reach more teachers who are passionate about school gardens.

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In Episode 14 of the School Gardens with Ease podcast, Leila Mireskandari continues her deep dive into crafting a winning proposal for your school’s annual vegetable garden project. This episode is a must-listen for teachers ready to transform their classrooms and schools into thriving green spaces that enhance learning across all subjects.

What You’ll Learn:

• Timing is Everything: Discover how to seamlessly integrate garden activities into your daily class schedule without adding extra work or stress.
• Perfect Placement: Learn why the location of your garden is crucial and how to choose a spot that gets optimal sunlight, is easily accessible for watering, and remains visible to foster community support.
• Classroom vs. Outdoor Gardens: Get expert advice on whether to start with a classroom garden or dive straight into an outdoor garden project. Leila shares the benefits and challenges of each, helping you make the best decision for your school.
• Preventing Garden Vandalism: Understand why visibility is key to protecting your garden from vandalism and theft, and how personalized student-made signs can create a sense of community ownership.
• Looking Ahead: Stay tuned for the next episode, where Leila will introduce low-maintenance Permaculture design ideas and budget-friendly tips to help you build a sustainable and impactful school garden.

Whether you're a first-time garden planner or an experienced educator looking to enhance your current project, this episode is packed with practical tips and insights to ensure your school garden proposal is a success. Don’t forget to check out parts 1-3 of this series for a comprehensive guide to pitching and planning your school garden.

My Recommended List of Seeds for Schools:
https://www.kidsgrowingcity.ca/get-seed-list-gift-for-teachers

Indoor Seed Starting in Schools guide:
https://www.kidsgrowingcity.ca/offers/pZ2cNrYj/checkout

To learn more about my Oasis Suite of programs you can visit the following link:
https://www.kidsgrowingcity.ca/links-oasis-programs

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In Episode 13 of the School Gardens with Ease podcast, host Leila Mireskandari continues her insightful series on how to pitch and plan your annual vegetable school garden project. This episode focuses on one of the most crucial aspects of your proposal: the integration of lesson plans that turn your garden into a powerful educational tool.

Key Takeaways:

• The Core of School Gardens: Discover why lesson plans are essential for transforming a school garden into an educational experience and how they differentiate school gardens from any other garden.
• Budgeting for Educational Success: Understand the often-overlooked cost of developing lesson plans and why it's critical to include these in your garden proposal's budget.
• Strategic Lesson Planning: Leila shares her secret to writing effective garden-related lesson plans—starting with the garden tasks and integrating them with your existing curriculum. Learn how to create a series of lessons that align with the natural schedule of gardening while covering key subjects like science, math, language, arts, and social studies.
• Avoiding Common Pitfalls: Learn why one-off gardening lessons aren't enough and how a well-structured, integrated approach can ensure that your students not only grow a garden but also gain meaningful, curriculum-aligned learning experiences.
• Preparing for Your Pitch: Get tips on how to communicate the importance of lesson plans in your pitch or proposal, setting the stage for a well-rounded, funded, and educationally impactful garden project.

If you're preparing to propose a school garden or looking to enhance your current project with structured educational content, this episode is a must-listen. Stay tuned for the next episode, where Leila will discuss the timing and location of your garden, crucial factors that influence your project’s budget and success.

My Recommended List of Seeds for Schools:
https://www.kidsgrowingcity.ca/get-seed-list-gift-for-teachers

Indoor Seed Starting in Schools guide:
https://www.kidsgrowingcity.ca/offers/pZ2cNrYj/checkout

To learn more about my Oasis Suite of programs you can visit the following link:
https://www.kidsgrowingcity.ca/links-oasis-programs

To figure out the timing of seeds for your growing zone:
Growveg.com

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In Episode 12 of the School Gardens with Ease podcast, your host Leila Mireskandari continues the essential discussion on creating a compelling proposal for your annual vegetable school garden project. This episode is part 2 of the series and dives deep into the heart of your proposal: the detailed plan.

Leila explains the critical elements your plan should cover, including the "who," "what," "when," and "where" of your garden project. She emphasizes the importance of ensuring that students, not adults, are at the center of all garden activities, from building to growing. This hands-on involvement is crucial for making your school garden a true educational tool.

In this episode, Leila also breaks down what types of plants to include and avoid in your garden. She provides insights into choosing the right plants that align with the school schedule and growing season, ensuring that your students can enjoy the fruits of their labor before the school year ends or return to a bountiful harvest in the fall.

Whether you're planning an outdoor garden or a classroom garden, this episode is packed with practical advice to help you build a garden that thrives with minimal maintenance over the summer. Leila also highlights her Oasis Classroom program, perfect for those interested in creating a robust indoor garden experience.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• The essential components of a detailed school garden plan
• Why students should be the ones doing all the garden work
• How to select plants that are easy to grow and fit the school calendar
• Tips for minimizing summer maintenance with smart plant choices
• The benefits of classroom gardens and how they can be a great alternative to outdoor gardens

Links Mentioned:

• Episode 6: The Unsung Heroes of School Gardening – Classroom Gardens
• Oasis Classroom Program
• Free Recommended List of Seeds for School Gardens
• GrowVeg.com Garden Planner (7-Day Free Trial)

Tune in to ensure your school garden proposal is complete, compelling, and sets you up for a successful growing season. And don’t forget to join us in the next episode, where we’ll explore the “what to teach” component of your garden plan.

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n this episode of the "School Gardens with Ease" podcast, host Leila Mireskandari dives into the first part of a crucial topic: how to create a compelling proposal for an educational food garden at your school. This episode, the first in a multi-part series, focuses on the foundational elements you need to make your pitch irresistible to school decision-makers like principals, directors, school board committees, and parent councils.

Episode Highlights:

• Introduction to School Garden Proposals: Learn why it’s important to craft a solid proposal or presentation, especially if you need approvals, funding, or other forms of support.
• Key Elements of Your Proposal:
  1. Type of Garden: Why an annual vegetable garden is the best choice for educational purposes, and how it stands out from other garden types like pollinator gardens or fruit orchards.
  2. The "Why" of Your Garden: Detailed benefits of a school garden, including its role as a versatile educational tool, its hands-on experiential learning opportunities, and its potential for fostering teamwork, empathy, and environmental stewardship.

Leila also emphasizes the empowering nature of food gardening, offering students a tangible way to contribute to environmental solutions. By the end of this episode, you'll be equipped to start building a proposal that not only secures support but also turns stakeholders into enthusiastic advocates for your school garden project.

Tune in next week as Leila continues with the detailed plan and budget components of your school garden proposal.

Resources Mentioned:

• My Recommended List of Seeds for Schools:
  https://www.kidsgrowingcity.ca/get-seed-list-gift-for-teachers
• Indoor Seed Starting in Schools guide:
  https://www.kidsgrowingcity.ca/offers/pZ2cNrYj/checkout
• To learn more about my Oasis Suite of programs you can visit the following link:
  https://www.kidsgrowingcity.ca/links-oasis-programs

Don’t miss this insightful guide to making your school garden dreams a reality!

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In this episode we will talk about how not to engage your community in your school garden project and how to do it properly and at the right time.
This goes against the grain but is something we should talk about.

My Recommended List of Seeds for Schools:
https://www.kidsgrowingcity.ca/get-seed-list-gift-for-teachers

Indoor Seed Starting in Schools guide:
https://www.kidsgrowingcity.ca/offers/pZ2cNrYj/checkout

To learn more about my Oasis Suite of programs you can visit the following link:
https://www.kidsgrowingcity.ca/links-oasis-programs

Send us a text

In this episode we will talk about what to do if you were given an old garden and was told to take over, revive and use it. Or if you discovered an old garden and decided to take over, revive and use it.

My Recommended List of Seeds for Schools:
https://www.kidsgrowingcity.ca/get-seed-list-gift-for-teachers

Indoor Seed Starting in Schools guide:
https://www.kidsgrowingcity.ca/offers/pZ2cNrYj/checkout

To learn more about my Oasis Suite of programs you can visit the following link:
https://www.kidsgrowingcity.ca/links-oasis-programs