School Gardens with Ease

Leila

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Discover how to effortlessly integrate school gardens into your elementary or middle school curriculum with the School Gardens with Ease Podcast. This podcast is your go-to resource for creating flourishing and productive food gardens that provide long-term educational benefits. Learn tips, strategies, and insights to help you grow and maintain a sustainable school garden that enhances your teaching and inspires students for years to come.

6 DAYS AGO

22: Four-in-One, A School Garden That Does It All!

Welcome to School Gardens with Ease! I'm your host, Leila Mireskandari, and in this episode, I explore how food gardens can serve multiple purposes—beyond just growing food.Last week, I spoke with Victoria Hackett from Outdoor Classrooms about her system for outdoor education, where she identified four types of gardens:Gardens that feedGardens for art and beautyGardens as outdoor learning stationsGardens that attract wildlifeIf you missed that episode, I encourage you to check it out and conn...

10 min
OCT 11

21: Empowering Educators to Reconnect with Nature Through Outdoor Classrooms with Victoria Hackett, M.Ed.

In this episode of School Gardens with Ease, host Leila Mireskandari welcomes her first-ever guest, Victoria Hackett, M.Ed., an award-winning nature-based educator and advocate. Victoria shares her journey from being a parent envisioning a better outdoor space for her children’s school to becoming a leader in the creation of outdoor classrooms. Together, Leila and Victoria discuss the transformative power of outdoor learning and how it impacts both children and educators.Key Discussion Points...

28 min
OCT 4

20: The Biggest Mistake in Gardening Lesson Plans—And How to Fix It!

In this episode of School Gardens with Ease, host Leila Mireskandari reveals the biggest mistake teachers make when writing or finding gardening lesson plans. Spoiler alert: it's all about how you approach them!Leila explains that many teachers start by focusing on their curriculum needs—like teaching math, science, or language arts—and then try to build a gardening lesson around those topics. While that method might work for some hands-on activities, it’s not the right approach for growing a...

15 min
SEP 27

19: The Biggest Mistake Teachers Make When Starting a School Garden

In this episode, Leila dives into the single biggest mistake teachers make when starting a school garden. Drawing from over a decade of experience working with hundreds of teachers, Leila reveals why trying to grow a garden outside of class time is the number one error educators should avoid. She explains how this common misconception leads to frustration, exhaustion, and disengagement—and how to avoid it.Leila emphasizes the importance of integrating garden projects into class time, making t...

12 min
SEP 20

18: 5 School Garden Myths That Are Holding You Back

In this episode of School Gardens with Ease, Leila Mireskandari takes a step back from technical tips to bust the biggest myths about growing a school garden. If you've been overwhelmed by the idea of starting a garden at your school, this episode is for you! Leila goes straight to the heart of five common misconceptions that might be holding you back.Here’s what you’ll learn:Myth 1: The more volunteers, the easier it is – Not necessarily! Learn why too much help can actually create chaos.Myt...

12 min
SEP 13

17: Skip the Confusion: Plant Seeds Like a Pro in Your School Garden

In today’s episode, we're breaking down one of the most confusing aspects of gardening for many teachers: planting seeds. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the timing, spacing, or whether to plant seeds indoors or outdoors, this episode is for you. Leila simplifies the process so you can confidently start your school garden without wasting time on complex details.In This Episode, You’ll Learn:The importance of timing for planting based on your gardening zoneHow to use the free tool at Growve...

14 min
SEP 6

16: Fall & Winter Classroom Gardening Ideas – Easy, Fun Activities for Students

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 accom...

15 min
AUG 30

15: Unlock Cost-Saving Design Secrets for Your School Garden Pitch: Permaculture Techniques and Budgeting Tips Every Teacher Needs to Know

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, n...

19 min

See All (23)

JUN 17

Trailer: School Gardens with Ease Podcast

COMING SOON! I'm Leila Mireskandari, the founder and director of Kids Growing City, a non-profit with the mission to teach the next generation how to grow their own food!I have dedicated over a decade of my life to supporting teachers to grow classroom and school gardens, full-time, have studied in this field, have written countless growing lesson plans and built many growing programs.And I'm on a mission to help Elementary and Middle School Teachers...... TEACH their flourishing, producing, ...

Jun 17

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2 min

School gardening-you can do it!

Jul 14

plasterjim

For a while I have wanted to make over our school garden, but have been daunted by the work and upkeep. This podcast has reminded, refocused, and reignited my desire to get it growing again. And I feel like it is doable just with some soil and my students ready to learn! Leila presents the school garden concept, emphasis on the school, in a way that really empowers the eager teacher as well as the reluctant teacher to get their hands dirty to develop meaningful lessons to enhance student learning. My main takeaway from the podcast so far is the school garden has to be student run, not built on the back of the martyr teacher, and Leila talks you through how to do it. Thank for sharing your ideas Leila!

Discover how to effortlessly integrate school gardens into your elementary or middle school curriculum with the School Gardens with Ease Podcast. This podcast is your go-to resource for creating flourishing and productive food gardens that provide long-term educational benefits. Learn tips, strategies, and insights to help you grow and maintain a sustainable school garden that enhances your teaching and inspires students for years to come.

Creator

Leila
Years Active

2K
Episodes

23
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Clean
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School Gardens with Ease

Performing Arts

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School Gardens with Ease

22: Four-in-One, A School Garden That Does It All!

21: Empowering Educators to Reconnect with Nature Through Outdoor Classrooms with Victoria Hackett, M.Ed.

20: The Biggest Mistake in Gardening Lesson Plans—And How to Fix It!

19: The Biggest Mistake Teachers Make When Starting a School Garden

18: 5 School Garden Myths That Are Holding You Back

17: Skip the Confusion: Plant Seeds Like a Pro in Your School Garden

16: Fall & Winter Classroom Gardening Ideas – Easy, Fun Activities for Students

15: Unlock Cost-Saving Design Secrets for Your School Garden Pitch: Permaculture Techniques and Budgeting Tips Every Teacher Needs to Know

Trailer

Trailer: School Gardens with Ease Podcast

Ratings & Reviews

School gardening-you can do it!

About

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School Gardens with Ease

Episodes

22: Four-in-One, A School Garden That Does It All!

21: Empowering Educators to Reconnect with Nature Through Outdoor Classrooms with Victoria Hackett, M.Ed.

20: The Biggest Mistake in Gardening Lesson Plans—And How to Fix It!

19: The Biggest Mistake Teachers Make When Starting a School Garden

18: 5 School Garden Myths That Are Holding You Back

17: Skip the Confusion: Plant Seeds Like a Pro in Your School Garden

16: Fall & Winter Classroom Gardening Ideas – Easy, Fun Activities for Students

15: Unlock Cost-Saving Design Secrets for Your School Garden Pitch: Permaculture Techniques and Budgeting Tips Every Teacher Needs to Know

Trailer

Trailer: School Gardens with Ease Podcast

Ratings & Reviews

School gardening-you can do it!

About

Information

You Might Also Like