Welcome back to Teach Outdoors, the podcast that inspires educators to take learning outside! In this episode, we chat with Leila Mireskandari, a Gardening Coach for teachers, founder of Kids Growing City, and host of the School Gardens with Ease podcast. Leila shares her journey from software developer to school garden expert, driven by her passion for growing food and teaching children crucial life skills. We dive into her Oasis programs, designed to help teachers create thriving school gardens that are fully managed by students and integrated into the curriculum. Whether you’re new to garden-based learning or looking to overcome common challenges, Leila’s insights offer practical strategies and inspiring success stories.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• 🌱 How Leila transitioned from a corporate job to leading school garden programs.
• 🌱 The driving factors behind her passion for food-growing education.
• 🌱 An overview of the Oasis suite of programs and how they empower teachers and students.
• 🌱 Challenges teachers face when starting a school garden and how Leila’s programs provide solutions.
• 🌱 Highlights from Leila’s work, including her experiences growing school gardens and overcoming obstacles.
• 🌱 Tips for maintaining a sustainable garden year-round, even through summer breaks.

Key Takeaways:

1. Gardens as Classrooms: Leila’s Oasis programs are designed to be easy for teachers to implement during the school day, connecting directly to the curriculum and allowing students to lead the way.
2. Skill Development: Beyond gardening, students gain valuable skills like problem-solving, teamwork, and an understanding of food systems and sustainability.
3. Overcoming Obstacles: Leila shares her lessons from running gardens in various settings, helping teachers bypass common pitfalls.
4. Sustainability Tips: Practical advice for ensuring school gardens thrive, even when school isn’t in session.

About Our Guest: Leila Mireskandari is a certified Permaculture Designer, Landscape Designer, and holds a Master’s Degree in Environmental Studies with a focus on food-growing education. She has been running school garden programs full-time since 2013, helping schools create abundant, educational food gardens with ease.

Connect with Leila:

• Website: Kids Growing City
• Podcast: School Gardens with Ease
• Instagram: @kidsgrowingcity

Resources Mentioned:

• The Oasis Series Programs (Lesson plans, student booklets, and support for teachers)
• Tips for garden sustainability and student-led projects