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It's encouraging to hear how many of the interviewers came from all walks of life. Whether it's how we eat or what we'd like to pass on to our students, everyone recognized how important it is to garden, and how much more necessary it is to inculcate that into our children or students. I found it also interesting that some of them were taking this course not only to teach, but also for personal reasons.

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Having been introduced to gardening at an early age, I could relate to some of the reasons why these people are successful. Their upbringing on a farm and having a grandparent or family member passing on that knowledge contributed to a lot of their success in growing vegetables, or enjoying gardening.

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The main thread in a lot of these stories are their introduction to gardening at an early age.

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As a school garden teacher, I found the stories from the Science teacher gardening with her students helpful and many of the school garden stories very useful. My hope is to continue to learn how to make this amazing environmental class enjoyable. It's so important to pass this on to all of our students and children. Otherwise their journey will be missing a very important ingredient.

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My question was for Sarah from the Zoo.
What was the process in getting the Zoo involved or connected to the garden?

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I find it inspiring that parents want to help volunteer in school gardens. This is something I’d like to start… a volunteer program but just not sure how I want it to be run yet. I know volunteers could be a big help for me although I’m a little reluctant to starting this process.

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I heard many say that they began gardening at a young age and that leads to a love of gardening/nature as an adult. Coming back to gardening for me as been therapeutic and it sparks joy in my life.

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Parents who volunteers are awesome! I think the support that parents can give to teachers is a beautiful thing. Observing their own children in the garden as well as their classmates is also a benefit for the parent.

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My question is for Emily in CA. Will you return to your child’s school to help again? In what ways will you help? Does the school have a volunteer schedule or did your child’s teacher just ask for your help? I’d like to know how that works at the school.

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I am so happy to have this group of gardeners. I love all the advice that you all are willing to share. We all have different experiences, but a common thread is that we all LOVE PLANTS! I found it inspiring that some parents were willing to take this course to help their teacher. What a gift!

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I keep hearing and listening to parents who are so willing to help in the school garden. To help teachers in creating, maintaining, etc. That gives me hope that maybe I'll have some parents who are willing to help in our school.

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A common theme in all of us is that we have such a huge love for outside, plants and teaching others about our craft. I can't wait to learn from all of you.

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I have the same questions for Emily.  that was so inspiring that 1. you are taking this course to help someone 2. that you volunteered at the school and showed students how to plant succulents.  How did the teacher reach out to you?  Where did you learn about succulents 3. What kind of soil do you need for succulents? (I love them, but don't know much about them)

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Thank you Jena for your advice on how to have other grade levels helping in the smallest way. If you break tasks into smaller parts, people are willing to help out. That's my hope, and I'll try that this school year.

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Since I started a nonprofit organization, I really liked the idea of the 8 week Jr Master Gardener program. I feel like this is a program that I can offer to the students at my adopted school during the summer months. Since I teach over 200 students at the school, the program would allow them to get more one on one hands on lessons at the community garden. I could then award them the Jr Master Gardener upon completion and allow them to take on more leadership roles at the school garden during the school year. Thanks Brianne G for the idea.

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The common theme we all share is the passion and love we have for children and wanting to teach them the importance of gardening and taking care of mother nature.

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What's most inspiring to me is that it's more people out here just like me wanting to make a difference in this world through our children. Being a stay at home mom and wanting to devote your time in being able to help your child's teacher is something you hardly ever find but it's so special. My kids school have been so supportive of what I am doing and I have even made other parents want to volunteer more. What we are doing is very important and everyone's stories are so inspiring.

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I think that one thing that truly leads to success is by creating an environment that makes everyone feel like its a sense of community. Having different aspects in the garden that everyone can relate to will allow more people to want to be more involved. I can say from experience that as a parent starting this program within the school was a great way to show other parents that you too can be more involved. I have had a great response and know we will be able to do more within the school with this gardening program.

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Jimmie Espich
I found it very inspiring that we are working or volunteering in such a variety of situations but we have similar purposes. We are all hoping to develop a connection between children and the natural world of gardens or between children and the source of their food. Many different methods are used, but we are all hoping to inspire children to learn through the gardening experience.

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It seems that frequently success came from persisting until the right method was found. There were examples of having ideas for projects and then working to inspire others to join or to contribute resources.

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A common theme was the joy that was experienced from a successful project. The presenters all smiled as they revealed their success. Another common theme was that the experiences were simple gardening practices that engaged children and taught them about natural processes.

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I would like to know more about the outdoor school for infants and preschoolers. The presented described trying to develop more activities for infants and toddlers. I could not imagine outdoor lessons/experiences for that age group.

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I think the junior master gardener program is a brilliant idea. We had only grade 1 students in our gardening club but at the same time, we have been trying to come up with some activities for grade 4 and up. Brianne's experience sharing is very inspiring and would love to know more details. Thanks for sharing, Brianne!

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I think Sidney C mentioned that she started the program through working with PTA, in addition to talking to the school principal, is inspiring. We have not an easy time to recruit volunteers among parents until recently one parent signed up. PTA would be a large platform for spreading the words about what our gardening club is doing and plans to do, so that parents could be more motivated to grant a helping hand.

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I found that everyone started from small initiative, then persisted their work to achieve some good results, of course, satisfaction to both the kids and the educators. This is encouraging.

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Everyone started with young kids, even as young as infant in Asia D's case, which is amazing! When kids are involved through self experience, their minds are opened and see a whole new world. The key is how the adults guide them and give them the opportunities. Self-satisfaction, and self-motivation among the kids, then the explorable and teachable moments in the outdoor classroom all combine to lead to success.

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Everyone has a different story but presents her persistency, the belief in the benefits and education that a garden can offer to the kids is the most inspiring. How each of us achieves our goals, intended or unintended, is interesting.

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The Healthy Foods for Healthy Kids Statewide Delaware program is so inspiring to hear about. The fact that there is a curriculum and the food is used in school lunches. I love that students all have special garden jobs. I truly believe that children can and will do all aspects of gardening- weeding, digging, planting, watering, and harvesting. It would be great if this program could add food prep time if they don't already have it. I wish all of our states would develop this type of program!

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It seems to me that the specific actions that drive the success stories are passion, dedication and desire to empower students to be part of their food systems and community. We likely don't realize we are modeling to students how to work towards your dreams!

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A desire for students to engage with the natural world experientially, know more about where their food comes from and healthy eating, and learning as we go.

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For all the parent volunteers. How do the teachers make you feel welcome to volunteer? Are you willing to do garden jobs on your own or do you prefer the teacher organize several people to work together? I have a hard time with parent follow through even when parents have the best intentions. I want to know how to have a pool of volunteers.

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Something that I found inspiring was that any student of any age can be involved in the garden in different ways. I loved the idea of getting infants involved, Why not? I think allowing children to explore at a young age, plants the seed for children to grow as gardeners and to appreciate their environment.

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One success was to see how a student who did not eat or will try any vegetables, ate a vegetable that had grown in the school garden. This student took care of that plant, took ownership, and led this student to be willing to try something new.
Another success story was to hear that the whole community was involved in the compost project.
The other successful story was to be able to serve in the cafeteria all the food that was harvested from the school garden.

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-Community involvement
-Students are wiling to try new foods
-Students are exposed to fresh produce
-Students are excited

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Do you get enough students to take care of the garden throughout the entire summer? Were the teachers involved in the summer gardening projyect?We had some who signed up to take care of the garden during the summer, but they only did it a couple of days.

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-The Junior Master Program is a great program. During those 4-8 weeks students take care of a part of the garden. I like the idea of taking care of one part of the garden. I love the idea of sending the leftover food to the pantry, or in my school situation, will go to the community center, or we could create a food pantry, where parents and students from that community could access fresh produce.

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It is encouraging to see how many educators are trying school gardens and finding success.  Also that it is happening all over the country and with many different student age levels.

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It is encouraging to see how many educators are trying school gardens and finding success.  Also that it is happening all over the country and with many different student age levels.

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Gardening with students does not have to complicated.  It can simply be placing seeds in soil and watching them grow.

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Gardening with students does not have to complicated.  It can simply be placing seeds in soil and watching them grow.

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I was able to learn something from every video I watched.  Thank you everyone for completing these videos.  It was very inspiring!

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I was able to learn something from every video I watched.  Thank you everyone for completing these videos.  It was very inspiring!

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I would like to know if anyone has premade task lists that teachers, students, or volunteers can refer to when working in a school garden?

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I would like to know if anyone has premade task lists that teachers, students, or volunteers can refer to when working in a school garden?

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I would also like to know if anyone has a list of potential grants for funding school gardens?

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I would also like to know if anyone has a list of potential grants for funding school gardens?

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It inspires me the commitment most educators and communities have about growing a garden at school and how they use the garden to educate students all year round. For example the idea of Shannon Goodwin from Wittenbach Wege Center at Lowell, MI is amazing. Having a Summer Club is a great idea and keep students engage into the garden education even during the Summer.

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It inspires me the commitment most educators and communities have about growing a garden at school and how they use the garden to educate students all year round. For example the idea of Shannon Goodwin from Wittenbach Wege Center at Lowell, MI is amazing. Having a Summer Club is a great idea and keep students engage into the garden education even during the Summer.

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My question will be for Jenna Simms from Whichita, Kansas. What did you do to get people involve into the garden? I have been trying to get the whole school involved, but as of now we are only two grade levels working with the garden. Any suggestions? Thanks!

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My question will be for Jenna Simms from Whichita, Kansas. What did you do to get people involve into the garden? I have been trying to get the whole school involved, but as of now we are only two grade levels working with the garden. Any suggestions? Thanks!

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All stories are successful. I like to hear that kids love getting involved into the gardening process. My students get very excited every time we go outside to work on it. As of now my school is working n getting sponsors so we can build a bigger one. Hopefully by next SPRING will have a garden where we can work all together. Bigger space, more beds and a seating area for outdoor lessons is what we are looking for.

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I found it inspiring to hear that so many people either created their own programs or are looking to start something within their community or school system. It gives me hope that I can turn my ideas into a reality in my community.

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I felt that most stories started with an idea put into action. I heard a lot of stories where ideas were shared with a community or school and then they were put into action. To me this shows that it does take a community of people working together to make these ideas come to life.

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Volunteers can make a big difference! I heard a lot of starting a garden or utilizing an exisisting garden space. Getting creative when it comes to figuring out to get different age groups active in the garden. Gardening can be for everyone.

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I could relate to the nature preschool. I loved the idea of getting very young children involed in the gardening process. I run the preschool age program through our center. We have a lot of younger siblings that attend and it was nice to hear that there are ways to include that age group into our work.

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I found all the stories so inspiring! What stood out most to me was the story of the girl who ate just Pop Tarts and started to enjoy salads from the garden! Also the story of the students who begged their parents to continue the school garden during the summer. These are the results of all the hard work and care of the gardening educators!

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Students gardening and then bringing it into cafeteria for it to be prepared.

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Students gardening and then bringing it into cafeteria for it to be prepared.

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Knowing that there are so many people working on outdoor gardening is inspiring. I enjoyed gaining ideas from others on ways to use the garden to support the curriculum.

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I find it so inspiring that in so many cases the community is intertwined into the gardens in so many ways, through volunteers, through donating food to the local pantries (amazing), through selling produce to eating the produce or incorporating it into the school. To think that there are so many people out there who will volunteer their time because they're so passionate about gardens/school gardens is incredibly inspiring.

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It seems that a lot of success comes from various volunteers and liaisons coming together to contribute where they can to the garden, it's not always up to one person. It reminds me of the phrase, "it takes a village".

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I heard the phrase in one, but the approach in a couple. Encouraging more activity and interaction by giving 'approachable tasks'. I have encouraged some garden leaders to do this sometimes, but terminology like this would better convey what I mean and why if they have asked folks to help in the past and not received it - they may apply the 'approachable' when reflecting and determine if their next approach could be different and net different results. from Mindy H

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I heard the phrase in one, but the approach in a couple. Encouraging more activity and interaction by giving 'approachable tasks'. I have encouraged some garden leaders to do this sometimes, but terminology like this would better convey what I mean and why if they have asked folks to help in the past and not received it - they may apply the 'approachable' when reflecting and determine if their next approach could be different and net different results. from Mindy H

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Some were because there was troubleshooting and support for a staffperson to take charge of the garden and time alloted to be able to use it. Others were because grants were received to help make headway. (Mindy H)

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Some were because there was troubleshooting and support for a staffperson to take charge of the garden and time alloted to be able to use it. Others were because grants were received to help make headway. (Mindy H)

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How opportunities to reflect on success create energy and excitement in the person talking about them- especially if it was something interactive with youth in a garden -their face lights up. Incorporating success reflection opportunities is something I can try to incorporate more in my programming (from Mindy H)

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How opportunities to reflect on success create energy and excitement in the person talking about them- especially if it was something interactive with youth in a garden -their face lights up. Incorporating success reflection opportunities is something I can try to incorporate more in my programming (from Mindy H)

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The most inspiring thing to me is just having people get involved in the gardening process. That included children, parents, and even the community.

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In most cases, people were introduced to gardening at a young age. Unfortunately, that is not my case. In my case, help from others has been the biggest part in leading to success.

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I noticed a lot of people talking about parent volunteers.

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My question is how on earth do I get parents to volunteer? I have tried so many times to get parents to help and no one has ever seemed interested in helping with the garden.

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I didn't notice any situation relevant to my current work. Although Asia's story is exactly what I want to work towards! I want to incorporate A LOT more nature based learning and environments at my child care center!