Community Chats

Whether you're new to gardening or a seasoned educator, you don't have to take on the challenges of gardening with kids alone. Community Chats are the perfect place to build connections with a community to share, inspire, and support you!

Join these hour-long live Zoom sessions to chat with Kids Garden Community members and topic specialists. 

• Each Chat will focus on a broad theme with educators and practitioners available to answer your questions. We'll have topic specialists available to answer questions but all attendees are encouraged to share their ideas!

• Think of these as “office hours” — join for the entire session to listen and learn or hop on at your convenience to ask a question.
  
  
  

View Past Community Chats

Discussion threads for each Chat include a link to the recording and a list of resources that were shared. If you'd like to connect with anyone from a Chat, look them up in the member directory, send us an email (community@kidsgardening.org), or reply to the discussion thread.

Curricular Connections in School Gardens

February 21, 2023

A few things we talked about: addressing teacher hesitations, sources for lessons and activities, getting started with curricular connections, and more!

View the recording and resources

Literacy in the Garden!

January 24, 2023

A few things we talked about: ideas for connecting books to gardens, writing and vocabulary activities in the garden, involving all ages/grades and more!

View the recording and resources

Winter Gardening with Kids

November 16, 2022

A few things we talked about: tips for greenhouses and hydroponics, winter growing and season extension, keeping kids engaged outdoors and more!

View the recording and resources

Composting

October 26, 2022

A few things we talked about: choosing between different composting systems, vermicomposting, easy activities, funding for composting, and more!

View the recording and resources

Virtual Meetup: Non-school Youth Garden Programs 

September 28, 2022

We talked about challenges for these programs, ideas for successful programming ideas, creating curriculum, and some big questions!

View the recording and resources

Fundraising for Youth Gardening 

August 24, 2022

A few things we talked about: sponsorships, short and long term volunteers, fundraiser ideas, creative sources of funds and materials, and more!

View the recording and resources

Pollinators! 

June 22, 2022

A few things we talked about: objectives of pollinator gardens, pollinator-friendly planting, addressing bug-phobia, pollinator activities for kids, and more!

View the recording and resources

Summer Garden Maintenance 

May 18, 2022

A few things we talked about: who is responsible for summer maintenance, weed control, efficient watering tips, involving youth during the summer, low maintenance crops and more!

View the recording and resources

Planting Considerations for Youth Gardens 

February 16, 2022

A few things we talked about: extension agents, planting dates, planting wildflowers, tips for seed spacing with kids, soil health, and more!

View the recording and resources

Garden Layout 

January 12, 2022

A few things we talked about: accessible gardening, creating an outdoor learning space, options for shade, sourcing materials, and more!

View the recording and resources

Fundraising for Youth Gardening 

December 8, 2021

A few things we talked about: funding personnel, tips for getting started with fundraising, securing local donations, crowdfunding, funding non-school garden programs, and more!

View the recording and resources

Creating a Learning Garden 

October 6, 2021

A few things we talked about: cultivating buy-in, easy introductory activities, engaging students during cold winter months, tips for getting started with a greenhouse, creating gardens for kids of all abilities and more!

View the recording and resources