My third-graders’ classroom science experiment grew into a school garden!

That’s the short version of the story of how I became a garden educator, and why I have been a regular donor to KidsGardening for over 14 years. My third-grade class and I transplanted our pole beans from paper cups into a row of beans along a south facing nearby fence. As the years went on, I found myself infusing my teaching with outdoor education, and the garden area expanded. Garden-based learning became a regular part of our classroom activity, supported in large measure by parents and the community, and with two grants we received from KidsGardening.

It wasn’t until we received our first garden grant from KidsGardening that we were able to buy proper gardening tools and equipment for kids. Oh, the excitement we felt when the boxes of garden grant gifts arrived! Now we had much needed kid-sized tools, a garden cart, vegetable seeds, and more. The local newspaper even highlighted our garden and our grant award. This brought additional support and valuable networking with other school garden leaders.

We even had a visit from our California State Superintendent of Schools, whose goal was “a garden in every school.” Thanks in large measure to KidsGardening, and the continued development of our garden and food education programs, we found ourselves becoming a model program in what has truly become a school garden movement across America!

In my retirement years, now living in Oregon, I find great joy and purpose in volunteering as a garden educator, and in sharing the benefits of the garden with hundreds of kids each year. I can’t think of anything more important as we educate the next generation. I am only too pleased to be a regular donor to KidsGardening, having received significant support and valuable materials from this great organization, while also maintaining a relationship with people that understand the difference these youth garden programs can make in the lives of kids.

If you, too, have found value in KidsGardening’s hands-on activities, how-to gardening information, or grant programs, I invite you to join me in making a gift of support today. Your donation of any size will help to ensure that KidsGardening is able to continue providing these go-to resources to all of us, and to change the lives of countless kids across the country.