Learn: online trainings and opportunities

Since the pandemic so much school garden learning is available online or via youtube and it can be overwhelming!  Below are some vetted sources of cultivated knowledge.  Please keep in mind that SPPS may have processes and approaches that are slightly differentthan what is presented in these sources.  However, they share common principles around culturally responsive instruction through gardening and cooking!  Lastly, organizational websites may become reorganized or web links broken with time. Visit the organization's website and do a key word search to find their online resources.  

Edible Schoolyard 

For over 25 years, Edible Schoolyard has been a national leader in supporting the development and use of school gardens and cooking with fresh produce.  Look for their "Training Archive" for webinar series, such as their annual Virtual Summer Training series.  Some Standouts are: 

LifeLab

For over 40 years, LifeLab has been digging into school gardens and leading the nation in bringing organizations together to learn from one another and most recently fostering the development of the School Garden Support Organization Network and its online forum and recently its biennial conference.  It has developed curriculum, workshops, webinars, and one-time trainings to year-long School Garden Educator training.  

See their Professional Development and School Garden Resources webpages

School Garden Support Organization (SGSO) Network

Established in 2014 by several organizations around the country, the SGSO is dedicated to supporting organizations that support school garden development and education.  It hosts and coordinates a number of trainings and educational opportunities, as well as an online forum where you can connect with other organizations.  This is an organization of organizations and school districts, where you can ask about programming, professional development, policies and guidelines pertinent to school gardens, however there are webinars directly related to teaching with school gardens.  To be part of a community of school garden educators, see Kidsgardening.org below.

Kidsgardening.org

This long-standing organization has sponsored grants and challenges to support the development and use of youth gardens, and increasingly at schools.  Land on their Educator page to begin exploring their large library of lessons, activities and how-tos and opportunities.  Kidsgardening also hosts webinars and online trainings, as well as a youth garden community of practice that can be searched or questions asked.   Two standouts are: 

Culturally Inclusive Teaching in the Garden -- six webinars are available to view for free/donation.  

Landscape Design for Youth Gardens -- is an 8-part module that takes about 5-6 hours and is available for $25.  

Teaching in Nature's Classroom

7-18-23 This course has been offered for several years, and usually opens for Spring and for Fall for free or for a small fee for college credit.  There are 16 short modules that explore principles of garden-based education and provide an opportunity to connect with others teaching with school gardens and to reflect on your practice.  Strongly recommend taking the course with others in your garden team (or those considering joining).  Great review and source of inspiration for those who are well seasoned in garden-based teaching!  Visit the website and sign up for course notifications.