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Why Youth Gardens?
We use gardening as a vehicle for encouraging children to make good food choices, augmenting classroom studies with experiential learning, building a love of nature, stimulating social interaction, facilitating cultural exchange, and more. Click here to view data from 2009 that quantifies the benefits of school and youth gardens

Cultivating Success in a School Garden
For decades we have documented the academic, social, and health benefits realized by gardening youth, as reported by educators. Collectively these experiences indicate that a well-designed school garden program, closely aligned with learning goals, is a tremendously valuable tool to help young people turn book knowledge into experiential knowledge. Read more of our response to the recent article in The Atlantic questioning the value of school gardens.

Trees
Although most of the landscape lies dormant during winter months, exploration in your schoolyard does not need to end. Now is a great time to study trees. This month we provide background information about basic tree structure and function, along with lesson ideas to help get you started. For more, visit the Teachers' Room.

Keep Up with Kidsgardening: Subscribe to Kids Garden News
We'll send you monthly e-mail updates of available grants, gardening resources, youth gardening conferences, and more.

Read the current issue online.
See this month’s listing of grants, resources, conferences, and funding opportunities.

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School Garden Registry
Collaborate with fellow school gardeners! Browse descriptions of more than 1,200 school and community garden projects to find E-mail pals for your students.

What's your story? Register now.
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for other growing classrooms.


Seed Catalog Fun
January may seem mellow because the bustle of the holidays has passed, but with slower schedules it is a great time to get kids excited about the garden season that lies ahead. One way to help them catch the garden bug is to explore the multitude of seed catalogs available. They’re informative, fun, and a potential source of games to play on cold winter days. Visit the Family Room.

Parents' Primer
Looking for some guidance on how to make the most of your family garden? Our Parents' Primer can help! Many other writings on kids’ gardening start with what to grow and how to design and build a kids’ garden, prepare soil, and plant, but this primer is not just about creating one garden for your kids. It’s about taking advantage of “gardening moments” with your kids every week in your own backyard ... and front yard and in the garage and at the windowsill and in the basement ...

The Parents' Primer is the Family Resource Room feature for this month -- find out how to engage your children in outdoor explorations that cultivate their love of plants, gardening, and the environment.


Visit our online Gardening With Kids Shop for an extensive selection of innovative and exclusive items that support gardening with kids. You'll find tools for classroom projects and family gardens, and great gifts for gardeners of all ages.

Educators tell us that outdoor classrooms are a priority. With a few permanent structures, your school can create a multi-functional outdoor garden site, where interdisciplinary learning thrives. Our online shop specializes in curricula, structures, tools, accessories, and more to help you develop and expand your outdoor classroom or habitat.

  2010 Midwest School Garden Grant
The Grandchildren of Helene and Mark Eisner will sponsor 11 schools in Midwestern states through the National Gardening Association's Adopt a School Garden® program in 2010. Application deadline is February 12. Click here for more details.

New! 2010 Syngenta IPM in School Gardens Grant
Syngenta is sponsoring the Syngenta IPM in School Gardens Grant to support educators using school gardens as a tool for teaching students about integrated pest management strategies in the garden and on farms. During 2010, four schools will receive grant packages valued at $1,250. Click here for more details.

Scott's Community Partnership - Learn More

Fundraise with Flower Bulbs: Earn 50% Profit

Looking for a "healthy" and alluring option for raising funds for your school? NGA endorses the Flower Power Program. It features easy-to-grow spring-flowering bulbs and is a good deal to boot; your school gets to keep 50% of the profits. Click here to learn more.

Featured Book: Math in the Garden

growingfood

This engaging curriculum uses a mathematical lens to take children on an education-filled exploration of the garden. Learn more and order here


Digging Deeper Search
© 2010 National Gardening Association
www.garden.org, www.kidsgardening.org