19: The Biggest Mistake Teachers Make When Starting a School Garden

School Gardens with Ease

In this episode, Leila dives into the single biggest mistake teachers make when starting a school garden. Drawing from over a decade of experience working with hundreds of teachers, Leila reveals why trying to grow a garden outside of class time is the number one error educators should avoid. She explains how this common misconception leads to frustration, exhaustion, and disengagement—and how to avoid it.

Leila emphasizes the importance of integrating garden projects into class time, making them a hands-on, experiential teaching tool that connects to various subjects like science, math, language arts, and social studies. With real-life examples and actionable advice, Leila shares how designing, building, and maintaining the garden as part of the curriculum can enhance student engagement and learning.

Key Points Discussed:

• Why growing a garden outside of class time is the biggest mistake teachers make.
• The misconception that gardens must be set up outside class before being used for education.
• The importance of connecting the garden to the curriculum as a hands-on teaching tool.
• How gardens can facilitate the teaching of subjects like soil science, water cycles, biodiversity, math, and social justice.
• The challenges of managing a garden grown outside class time, including coordination, time, and resources.
• The benefits of engaging students in every aspect of the garden, from design to maintenance, to foster a sense of ownership and responsibility.

Stay tuned for the next episode, where Leila will discuss the biggest mistake teachers make when writing lesson plans for school gardens.

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