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As the year winds down and the excitement of a fresh start builds, this episode is an invitation to think ahead, strategically and calmly, about your 2026 school garden.

Mid-December is not too early to plan. In fact, it is the ideal time.

In this episode, Leila Mireskandari explains why successful, low-stress school gardens are not built in spring, they are built through intentional winter planning. You will hear how preparation, timing, and realistic systems make the difference between a garden that exhausts teachers and one that thrives with ease.

Why Most School Gardens Fail (and How to Avoid It)

After more than a decade of working full-time in school gardens, Leila has seen a consistent pattern: well-intentioned educators follow advice that is incomplete, misleading, or unrealistic for real classrooms.

In this episode, Leila explains:

• Why enthusiasm alone is not enough to sustain a school garden
• How poor timing and lack of planning lead to burnout
• Why spring rewards educators who prepared during the colder months

Free Annual Webinar: School Gardens with Ease

This limited-time webinar is designed for teachers and parents who want clarity before jumping into a school garden.

You will learn:

• The most common school garden mistakes
• What to do instead using Leila’s 2-phase strategy
• Practical guidance you can apply immediately

⏳ Available until December 31

👉 Register for the free webinar:
https://www.kidsgrowingcity.ca/main-registration-page-school-gardens-with-ease

The School Gardens with Ease Course (Doors Closing Soon)

For the first time, Leila teaches her entire school garden system from A to Z.

The course covers:

• School garden design and timing
• Scheduling throughout the school year
• Writing gardening lesson plans
• Community involvement (when to include it—and when not to)
• How to build gardens with almost no summer maintenance
• What to teach in the garden and when
• and much more... essentially everything Leila can teach you on the topic!

The course includes two classes:

1. School Gardens with Almost No Summer Maintenance: Design & Build
2. School Gardens with Ease Logistics: Scheduling, Lesson Planning & Community and more

⏳ Enrollment closes shortly after the new year (timer on the registration page)

👉 View the course and enrollment details:
https://www.kidsgrowingcity.ca/links-school-gardens-with-ease-course-evergreen

Coming Up: Oasis Done-for-You Lesson Packages (Grades 3–8)

For educators who prefer ready-made materials, the Oasis Series will reopen later in the year, perfectly timed for spring preparation.

These done-for-you lesson packages help you:

• Move into action quickly
• Teach confidently in the garden
• Grow with ease instead of overwhelm

👉 Learn more about the Oasis Series:
https://www.kidsgrowingcity.ca/links-oasis-programs

If you are thinking about starting, or restarting, a school garden in 2026, this episode will help you set realistic expectations and choose the right level of support.

🎧 Listen to Episode 70 of School Gardens with Ease

Let’s make nature proud, and change the world, one school garden at a time, with ease and fun.