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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
  
  

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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!

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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.

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Want to bring fresh, healthy food into your classroom, without needing outdoor space or expensive equipment? In this episode of School Gardens with Ease, I’ll show you exactly how to grow a continuous supply of salad greens indoors, all school year long.

You’ll learn:

• How to set up a simple sub-irrigated planter system for reliable growth
• The best classroom-friendly seed mixes to choose for abundant harvests
• Why a sunny south-facing window is your secret weapon for success
• Step-by-step instructions to get your students planting, growing, and harvesting every week
• How just 5 minutes, 3 times a week, can create an endless cycle of greens for hands-on learning and healthy snacking

This isn’t just about gardening, it’s about empowering your students with real-life skills, sparking curiosity, and leaving a lasting legacy of connection to food and nature.

Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode:

• Oasis Fall & Winter Program
  – indoor gardening lessons for cold months
• Oasis Classroom Program
  – indoor spring food-growing program
• Seed Mixes: OSC Seeds (Canada) Seed Mix 1 Seed Mix 2
• Sow True Seeds (US)
  
  

Whether you’re an experienced school gardener or just starting out, this is one of the easiest and most rewarding projects you can do with your students.

🎧 Tune in now and learn how to grow salad greens in your classroom, year-round—with ease!

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The doors are officially open to the Oasis Fall & Winter Program, a done-for-you lesson package designed to bring your classroom to life during the gloomiest months of the year. In this episode of School Gardens with Ease, host Leila Mireskandari shares five engaging, low-cost, and curriculum-connected gardening activities that can be done indoors without grow lights or special equipment.

From seed stratification to microgreens, these projects help your students feel safe, connected, and excited to learn while building a growth mindset. Whether you’re looking for icebreaker activities, holiday projects, or ways to connect science, sustainability, and food, this program is designed to make your teaching easier and your classroom greener.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why fall and winter are the perfect seasons to spark student connection and growth.
• How the Oasis Fall & Winter Program makes classroom gardening simple and budget-friendly.
• Five hands-on activities your students will love:
  1. Milkweed seed stratification & monarch conservation
  2. Making seed balls (aka seed bombs)
  3. Crafting seed paper for green holiday gifts
  4. Growing sprouts in just a few days
  5. Growing microgreens for food, flavor, and fun
• How each activity connects to curriculum and supports hands-on learning.
• Details about the free Fall & Winter Gardening Checklist (with how-to instructions) and how to get the Oasis program at half price for 7 days.

Links and Resources:

• 🌱 Get your FREE Fall & Winter Gardening Checklist
  
  
• 🍂 Learn more about the Oasis Fall & Winter Program

Don’t miss this chance to make your classroom greener, more engaging, and full of life this season. Download the free checklist and join the Oasis Fall & Winter Program before the special offer ends!

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Fall often signals the end of gardening season, but when it comes to school gardens, closing things down too early means missing out on valuable learning opportunities. In this episode of School Gardens with Ease, host Leila Mireskandari explains why you don’t need to clear everything away in autumn, and why letting your garden rest naturally through winter is actually better for your students, your soil, and local biodiversity.

From kale that thrives under snow to pollinators sheltering in fall leaves, Leila shows you how to take a nature-first approach to seasonal transitions. You’ll also hear practical tips for keeping your school garden safe during the winter months, while still letting it teach lessons about cycles, resilience, and connection to the natural world.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why you don’t need to rush to close your school garden in the fall
• Cool-season crops that can thrive well into winter (kale, chard, parsley, spinach)
• How letting your garden “go natural” teaches students about seasonal change
• The surprising role of “dead” plants in supporting pollinators and soil health
• Why fall and early spring cleanups can actually hurt your garden’s biodiversity
• Safety considerations when leaving plants and stems in place over winter

Key Takeaway:
School gardens don’t need to be “put to bed” in fall. Let them rest, transform, and provide living lessons all winter long, while protecting pollinators, enriching the soil, and reducing your workload for spring.

Find out more about School Gardening on our website: https://kidsgrowingcity.ca

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Designing a school garden isn’t just about putting plants in the ground—it’s about creating a sustainable, low-maintenance space that engages students, thrives with minimal summer care, and becomes a true part of the school community.

In this episode of School Gardens with Ease, I share my process for designing school gardens that actually work for teachers and students. Drawing from more than a decade of experience and my background as a Permaculture designer, I walk you through the key steps that transform a typical “hard-to-manage” garden into one that’s easy, productive, and magical.

You’ll learn:

• The first step to garden design: choosing the right placement (sunlight, water access, visibility, and accessibility).
• Why fences and locks can backfire—and what works better for community involvement.
• How to create a planting plan that avoids common pitfalls, builds biodiversity, and supports healthy plant growth.
• The importance of guild planting (companions like tomatoes + basil + marigold) for resilience and success.
• Smart strategies to design for water conservation, including Hugelkultur, olla pots, mulching, and self-watering planters.
• Why biodiversity—not just tomatoes!—is the backbone of a thriving school garden.

If you want your school garden to be more than a patch of plants—if you want it to be a living, learning, and lasting space—this episode will give you the foundation to design with ease.

👉 Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode

• School Gardens with Almost No Summer Maintenance Class
  – learn the full system for creating thriving, low-maintenance school gardens.
• Recommended Seeds for School Gardens Guide
  
  
• How to Set Up Your Garden Hose for Volunteers

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Fall is here, and while outdoor gardens may be winding down, your classroom gardening journey is just getting started! In this episode of School Gardens with Ease, Leila Mireskandari explains how fall and winter activities fit into her brand-new School Gardens with Ease course. From harvesting last year’s crops with new students to hands-on indoor gardening projects like seed stratification, seed balls, and growing microgreens, you’ll learn exactly how to keep your students engaged with nature—even when it’s too cold to plant outside.

Whether you’re planning a spring garden or simply want fun, low-cost classroom activities, this episode is packed with ideas to make gardening a year-round learning tool.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How the School Gardens with Ease course is structured (logistics + design/build).
• Why fall gardens are the perfect entry point for new students.
• Ways to connect fall harvests and seed saving to your curriculum.
• Indoor fall and winter gardening projects, including:
  • Stratifying milkweed seeds for spring planting
  • Creating seed balls and seed paper (perfect for holiday gifts!)
  • Growing sprouts and microgreens with minimal supplies
• How these activities tie into the Oasis Fall & Winter program.

Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode:

• 🌱 School Gardens with Almost No Summer Maintenance Class
• 📘 Free Guide: Indoor Gardening Activities for Fall & Winter
• 🍂 Oasis Fall & Winter Lesson Plan Package – Join the Waitlist