Send us a text

In this episode of School Gardens with Ease, Leila Mireskandari shares the inspiring story behind how she discovered Permaculture, and how it completely changed the way she grows and teaches school gardens.

You’ll learn the two key elements that make a school garden both easy and productive, and discover why so many school garden projects struggle unnecessarily. Leila also shares behind-the-scenes updates about the upcoming Free School Gardens with Ease Webinar, where she’ll dive deeper into her proven 2-phase plan to help teachers grow thriving school gardens with confidence and ease.

This is a heartwarming and deeply practical episode for teachers, parents, and school council members who believe in hands-on learning, connecting kids with nature, and growing hope one garden at a time.

🌱 In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The real story that inspired Leila to start Kids Growing City
• How discovering Permaculture changed everything about her approach to gardening
• The biggest mistakes schools make when planning their gardens
• The two major keys to a thriving, low-maintenance, educational school garden
• Why school gardens should be teacher-led and 100% student-powered
• How to transform your garden into a powerful teaching tool for every subject
• How to join the upcoming free School Gardens with Ease Webinar

🔗 Links & Resources

• Join the Oasis Fall & Winter Program (Doors close at the end of October)
• Register for the Free School Gardens with Ease Webinar: (Direct link will be provided as soon as registration opens)
• Learn more at: KidsGrowingCity.ca
  
  

Send us a text

Have you ever dreamed of starting a school garden with your students but felt overwhelmed by the idea of needing a big team of parents, colleagues, and volunteers? In this episode of School Gardens with Ease, Leila Mireskandari challenges the myth that you can’t run a garden project on your own. Spoiler alert: you can, with just you and your students!

Leila shares how classroom gardens, powered by a sunny window and a handful of supplies, can be just as impactful as outdoor school gardens — sometimes even more so. She explains how teachers can:

• Start a classroom garden with just seeds, soil, and a few dollars.
• Build and grow an outdoor school garden using student power and simple techniques.
• Manage the approval and funding process with minimal outside help.
• Connect gardens directly to curriculum goals in science, math, language, arts, and more.

Whether you’re thinking small with an indoor garden or dreaming big with an outdoor plot, this episode will give you the confidence to know: yes, you can do it solo.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

• Oasis Classroom & School Garden Programs
• Episodes 31 & 32: Teacher experiences with classroom gardens
• Book a Zoom call with Leila to explore your garden plans

Listen now and discover how to take full control of your garden project — no extra team required!

Send us a text

If you’re dreaming of starting a school garden in the spring, the most important step is to start planning now, not in March or April. In this episode, Leila shares why fall and winter are the best seasons to prepare for a thriving school garden, and the common mistakes that cause so many projects to fail before they even begin.

Leila explains what needs to happen behind the scenes, budgeting, pitching your idea, designing for easy maintenance, and connecting your garden to the curriculum, so that when spring arrives, you’re ready to dig in with confidence and joy.

You’ll also learn about Leila’s free resource, How to Pitch Your School Garden Project, a step-by-step guide to help you organize your vision, plan effectively, and make your spring food garden a lasting success.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why waiting until spring to plan a school garden almost always backfires
• Key questions to ask yourself before you break ground on a garden project
• How to align your school garden with curriculum goals
• What to grow (and what not to grow) in a spring school garden
• The role of teachers, students, and parents in creating a sustainable garden
• Budgeting strategies that prevent wasted money and effort
• How Leila’s free guide helps you design, plan, and pitch your project

Resources and Links:

• 🎁 Download the free guide: How to Pitch Your School Garden Project
• 🌱 Learn more about the Oasis Fall & Winter Program – doors close at the end of October!
• 🎧 Listen to past episodes on indoor gardening activities, growing salad greens year-round, and more.