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As the year winds down and the excitement of a fresh start builds, this episode is an invitation to think ahead, strategically and calmly, about your 2026 school garden.

Mid-December is not too early to plan. In fact, it is the ideal time.

In this episode, Leila Mireskandari explains why successful, low-stress school gardens are not built in spring, they are built through intentional winter planning. You will hear how preparation, timing, and realistic systems make the difference between a garden that exhausts teachers and one that thrives with ease.

Why Most School Gardens Fail (and How to Avoid It)

After more than a decade of working full-time in school gardens, Leila has seen a consistent pattern: well-intentioned educators follow advice that is incomplete, misleading, or unrealistic for real classrooms.

In this episode, Leila explains:

• Why enthusiasm alone is not enough to sustain a school garden
• How poor timing and lack of planning lead to burnout
• Why spring rewards educators who prepared during the colder months

Free Annual Webinar: School Gardens with Ease

This limited-time webinar is designed for teachers and parents who want clarity before jumping into a school garden.

You will learn:

• The most common school garden mistakes
• What to do instead using Leila’s 2-phase strategy
• Practical guidance you can apply immediately

⏳ Available until December 31

👉 Register for the free webinar:
https://www.kidsgrowingcity.ca/main-registration-page-school-gardens-with-ease

The School Gardens with Ease Course (Doors Closing Soon)

For the first time, Leila teaches her entire school garden system from A to Z.

The course covers:

• School garden design and timing
• Scheduling throughout the school year
• Writing gardening lesson plans
• Community involvement (when to include it—and when not to)
• How to build gardens with almost no summer maintenance
• What to teach in the garden and when
• and much more... essentially everything Leila can teach you on the topic!

The course includes two classes:

1. School Gardens with Almost No Summer Maintenance: Design & Build
2. School Gardens with Ease Logistics: Scheduling, Lesson Planning & Community and more

⏳ Enrollment closes shortly after the new year (timer on the registration page)

👉 View the course and enrollment details:
https://www.kidsgrowingcity.ca/links-school-gardens-with-ease-course-evergreen

Coming Up: Oasis Done-for-You Lesson Packages (Grades 3–8)

For educators who prefer ready-made materials, the Oasis Series will reopen later in the year, perfectly timed for spring preparation.

These done-for-you lesson packages help you:

• Move into action quickly
• Teach confidently in the garden
• Grow with ease instead of overwhelm

👉 Learn more about the Oasis Series:
https://www.kidsgrowingcity.ca/links-oasis-programs

If you are thinking about starting, or restarting, a school garden in 2026, this episode will help you set realistic expectations and choose the right level of support.

🎧 Listen to Episode 70 of School Gardens with Ease

Let’s make nature proud, and change the world, one school garden at a time, with ease and fun.

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In this episode of School Gardens with Ease, Leila Mireskandari offers a heartfelt wake-up call for educators, parents, and school leaders who believe in the power of regenerative school gardens—but still haven’t attended the free School Gardens with Ease webinar.

If you know that kids need more nature, more hope, more hands-on learning, and more connection to real food, this episode is for you. Leila speaks directly to the rare, passionate advocates who understand the value of school gardens and want to be part of creating positive change for the next generation.

She also tackles the biggest reason people never attend the webinar—life gets busy—and why now is the moment to recommit. The webinar runs three times a day, every day, and is packed with over a decade of full-time, real-world school garden experience. If you care about food justice, student well-being, environmental education, or creating thriving learning environments, this is your reminder to show up.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why school gardens matter now more than ever
• Why most teachers never hear about the true value of growing a classroom garden
• The shared beliefs of educators and parents who care about nature-based learning
• How school gardens build hope, resilience, and mental well-being in youth
• Why the School Gardens with Ease webinar is essential for anyone planning (or dreaming of) a school garden
• How you can help spread the word and advocate for school garden programs
• Why planning for next season starts now

Who This Episode Is For

• Elementary and middle school teachers
• Principals and school administrators
• Parents who want hands-on, joyful learning for their kids
• Environmental educators and school food advocates
• Health & wellness consultants
• Anyone who dreams of bringing a garden to a school

Key Takeaway

If you believe every child deserves to know where food comes from—and if you want to empower the next generation with meaningful, hopeful, nature-connected education—then attending the webinar is the simplest, most impactful next step.

Call to Action

🌱 Register for the free School Gardens with Ease webinar (runs 3 times daily — even weekends & holidays!)

After you attend, share the link with every teacher, parent, administrator, or decision-maker you know. The movement grows when you share it.

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Thinking about starting a school garden but don’t know where to begin, or worried it might be too much work? In this episode, host Leila Mireskandari pulls back the curtain on her annual free webinar, School Gardens with Ease, and explains why it’s a must-attend event for any teacher who wants to grow a thriving classroom or school garden without stress, big budgets, or burnout.

Leila shares what’s inside this 70-minute masterclass, why so many school gardens fail (and how to avoid those pitfalls), and the exact strategies that make growing food with your students simple, sustainable, and fun.

🌿 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• What’s covered in the School Gardens with Ease free webinar
• The two biggest mistakes teachers make when starting a school garden
• Why “winging it” can harm your school’s garden culture — and how to avoid that trap
• How to use strategy and proactive planning to make your garden easy and successful
• What free resources you’ll receive when you attend

🎁 Free Resources:

When you register for the School Gardens with Ease free webinar, you’ll also receive three of Leila’s downloadable guides, completely free!

🕒 How to Attend:

The webinar runs three times a day, every day (including weekends) through the end of this year.
👉 Save your free spot here
(link to webinar registration page)

No excuses — this is your chance to learn how to grow a school garden the easy way!