The School Garden Podcast

Yes, you read that right - Sweetpotato all one word - it’s official! Join Anne and Mary Jo as they slip into everything you need to know about making sweetpotatoes a staple in your school garden this summer.  From spellbinding Latin taxonomy to a classic classroom Venn diagram - this episode has it all. Plus, Mary Jo may be packing her bags for North Carolina and discover just how far Anne will go in pursuit of the perfect sweetpotato cure. It’s science and storytelling with a huge helping of classroom-to-garden goodness.Podcast Outline: 00:20 - Intro00:42 - Welcome to the Sweetpotato Episode 1:06 -  How was your week? Counting in 2s with Basil 05:23 - Intro and History of The Sweetpotato Plant08:13 - Growing in Colder Climates09:05 - The North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission - Website and Resources https://ncsweetpotatoes.com/curriculum/Sweetpotato is one word! Sign the Petition here14:45 - The Differences of Irish and Sweetpotato - Venn Diagram Style!20:02 - Starting Sweetpotatoes by Slips 25:05 - Breaking off / Harvesting Sweetpotato Slips 26:08 - Ornamental and Non-Ornamental Sweetpotato Vines28:52 - How to Plant Sweetpotato Slips 31:05 - Caring for Sweetpotato Plants34:10 - Harvesting Sweetpotatoes38:48 - Curing Sweetpotatoes and Storage43:11 - Eating and Tasting44:56 - The North Carolina SweetPotato Commission Jingle!47:19 Outro Stay in touch with us!Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram and Facebook at MadeGreenewww.madegreene.com

Pop the kettle on and join Anne and Mary Jo as they spill the tea! Listen alongside as we show you how to celebrate your garden in a cup. From herbal teas to fresh water infusions, refreshing aguas frescas, and smoothies—garden tastings don’t have to be just about eating… sipping with your students is just as sweet! Plus, Mary Jo creates a manifesto where every household owns a teapot and Anne ponders the notion of cold days. Podcast Outline00:41 - Intro01:31 - How Has Your Week Been, Anne? 03:29 - Introduction to Teas in the Garden05:50 - Reasons Why We Should Incorporate Tea into Your Garden Program12:24 - The History of Tea14:02 - The Origins of Tea: From Medicine to Daily Taste16:45 - The Tea Plant: Camellia sinensis21:17 - Using Fresh Herbs for Tea25:44 - Using Tea Bags and Dried Herbs32:12 - Equipment and Materials Needed 34:41 - Hot Water Considerations 35:40 - Other Considerations for Tea Making36:54 - Kids Pallets and the Sweetness Situation40:08 - Butterfly Pea Tea: Color and Science.  43:57 Can we eat it? Edible or Ornamental45:48 - Water Infusions / Cold Teas49:20 - Agua Frescas51:00 - SmoothiesListen to the After School Cooking Club Episode53:15 - Outro Helpful ResourcesButterfly Pea PlantButterfly Pea TeaHerbal Tea Combinations and Drying Herbs.Agua Fresca recipesGarden SmoothiesFor more tasting and smoothie ideas, listen to Season 2. Episode 9 - The After-School Cooking Clubs Episode

Are you and your garden committee in need of some support and mentorship? In this episode Mary Jo talks with Laura Thomas and Peggy Word from The Eden Project UT. Listen along as they discuss their organization and share details about their nationwide school garden coaching program, SproUTing Teachers.With two pathways to choose from—Individual Teaching Coaching or Group Garden Leadership Coaching to support your whole committee—this mentorship course is designed to set you and your garden program up for long-term success and sustainability.Applications for the 2026–2027 school year are open now through May 1st, 2026.Eden Project UT Website:https://www.edenut.org⁠More Information about the Coaching Programs:https://www.edenut.org/programs Application Link:SproUTing Teachers

Small crop, big impact! Join Anne and Mary Jo as they dig into the when, how, and why of growing microgreens—and why this lightning-fast crop deserves a big place in every school garden program.Along the way, Mary Jo makes a GSA, Anne contemplates the fine art of flushing, and we explore how this tiny crop can inspire macro-sized entrepreneurial ideas for older students.Because when it comes to microgreens, a little really does grow a lot.Podcast Outline:00:40 - Episode Intro01:40: How Was Your Week - Embrace the Scruffy!06:33 - Microgreens Introduction 08:31 - What to Grow and Why Grow Them - Quick Growers - Radish, Broccoli, Mustard, Kale, Cabbage (green and red), Arugula and Turnip (0 - 2 weeks)- Longer Growers - Sunflowers, Peashoots, Basil, Carrot, Beet, Chard, Cilantro, Fennel, Dill, Parsley (2 - 4 weeks)11:09 - Amaranth Red Garnet Amaranth - True Leaf Market. Link here16:11 - How to Grow Microgreens21:41 - When Are They Ready and Harvesting22:45 - Classroom Activities with Microgreens28:10 - Making a Business or Fundraiser from Microgreens - ideal for older students36:10 - Outro and Thanks for Listening - Keep Flushing!

Educator Bonus EpisodeLooking for a grant to support your school garden efforts? Then, look no further than the Whole Foods Market Foundation's Garden Grant program. Listen in as Mary Jo talks with Ashley Ellis, the Edible Education Program Lead on the Improving Children Nutrition Pillar of Whole Foods Market Foundation. Listen quickly and act quickly! The deadline for this grant round has been extended to March 15, 2026.Learn more and apply here: https://www.wholefoodsmarketfoundation.org/our-work/childrens-nutrition/garden-grant

Time to peel away the layers and re-know your onions!Join Anne and Mary Jo again as they talk through all things onions and why your students will be crying if you don’t plant this awesome vegetable in your school garden this season. Podcast outline: 2:50 - Why grow onions? 3:33 - What part of the onion do we eat?  4:24 - Onion Family 4:43 - Planting onions 5:30 - How do onions grow 6:40 - Where to buy onion slips and sets 7:28 - How to plant onions and connections to the classroom 9:00 - Book Connection - ⁠Tops and Bottoms by Janet Stevens ⁠10:23 - Caring for your onions as they grow 11:10 - Watering 12:46- Signs of growth 13:15 - Bolting, going to seed or putting up a flower 15:40 - Harvesting 19:46 - Funny story 22:11 - Kid question:   Why do onions make you cry? Recommendations:  Our favorite and recommended feed store in North Texas is Russell Feed and Supply. Find your local store ⁠here⁠. Stay in Touch!⁠www.madegreene.com⁠Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram and Facebook at MadeGreene

Another helping of potatoes, anyone?  We’re digging back into The Potato Episode! Yep, it’s that time of year again—so get ready to plan and plant this student favorite. Your school gardens are about to get spud-tacular!Chapters: Encore Episode Introduction - 0:50Why Should We Grow Potatoes in Schools? - 3:14Connections to Curriculum - 4:38Potatoes are a Hungry Crop - 6:52DIfferent Varieties of Potatoes - 7:52True Potato Seed or Seed Potatoes - 9:42Buying the Right Kind of Seed Potato - 11:00Chitting or Sprouting Seed Potatoes - 11:51Cutting Seed Potatoes - 14:43Where to Plant Potatoes - 16:24Hilling, Banking or Earthing Up Potato Plants - 18:12 Harvesting Potatoes: 20:32Finding the Mother Tuber - 24:24Top Tips for Growing Success -25:15Have a Potato Party! - 27:02Growing Potatoes with a Class of Kids - 29:00Caution and Safety Notes: 29:43Kid Question: What is the difference between Potatoes and Sweet Potatoes: 31:17EndingMentioned Books or MaterialsThe Enormous Potato - Aubrey Davies purchase ⁠here⁠Recommended Fabric Growbags purchase ⁠here⁠Stay in touch with us!Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram and Facebook at MadeGreenewww.madegreene.com

Pesto grilled cheese, anyone? Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Chef Vahista Ussery joins today’s conversation to share her passion for all things food in the world of children’s nutrition education. Grab a plate and a napkin as we dig into the Shovels and Whisks After School Cooking and Gardening Club, which she runs alongside our very own Anne Santana! Bon Appetit!00:42 - Intro and Vahista’s JourneyTake a look at Vahista’s work at To Taste:To Taste on InstaTo Taste on FacebookTo Taste on the WebTo Taste on YouTube05:49 - The Origin Story of Shovels and Whisks After School Cooking and Garden Club09:57 - How to Organize a Cooking Club11:08 - The Cooking Sessions at Shovels and Whisks After School Club17:44 - State of Child Nutrition 22:09 - Navigating the Healthy Eating Conversation  27:36 - Favorite Recipes31:49 - Tips and TricksGrants Opportunities - Sprouts Healthy Community Foundation - School GardensLinks to recipes mentioned in the episode hereStay in touch with us!Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram and Facebook at MadeGreenewww.madegreene.com

Join Mary Jo and Anne as they explore the most popular reason students grow in school gardens—to taste! Listen along as they share tried-and-true strategies, practical techniques, and favorite recipes for trying produce in the school garden space. Perfect for empowering even the most cautious educators to host tasting sessions all year long. Podcast Outline:00:41 - 'Tis The Season for Tasting01:07 - How was your week? Mary Jo has been thinning and tasting and Anne has been working on her indoor hydroponic garden03:40 - Episode Intro: Tis' The Season for Tasting07:38 - Benefits of Tasting in the School Garden.10:22 - Tx Sprouts School Garden Program - Health Data Outcomes. Research Link here. 11:38 - Safety First13:24 - Preparation Next14:55 - Cleaning Produce17:32 - Easy Tasting Ideas. Link to info about Sunbutter here. 26:24 - Recording Taste Testings30:39 - Encouragement, Praise and Experimentation33:56 - Involving other District Departments and Local Organisations38:09 - School Garden to Cafeteria and Food Pantries39:33 - Resources - see links below40:38 - Outro We love Life Lab. Check out their resources here. We love The Edible School Yard Project. Check out their resources here. Resources from North Texas School Garden Network (NTxSGN) here. Stay in touch with us!Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram and Facebook at MadeGreenewww.madegreene.com

We love children's literature—and we know you do too! That’s why we couldn’t imagine a better first-ever podcast guest than Mary Frances Baker, author and illustrator of The Garden Friend. Join Mary Jo and Anne as they chat with Mary Frances and discover how your students can create their own garden friends and imagine new adventures in your school garden space. 00:42: IntroO1:24: We are guests on The Farm to School Podcast! Listen to the episode: When The School Garden Podcast meets The Farm to School Podcast episode. The Farm to School Podcast website. 02:37: The School Garden Podcast’s first guest! Mary Frances Baker and her book, The Garden Friend.05:10: Texas Children in Nature Network08:11: The Garden Friend bookThe Garden Friend WebsiteThe Garden Friend Instagram Page @the_gardenfriendThe Garden Friend - Teachers Pay Teachers13:44: The Welman Project13:50: Pegasus Creative Reuse (Pegasus Reuse)24:20: The Garden Friend Activity and Song (YouTube)25:45: Folklore Grove Bookstore, Arlington, Texas28:01: Outro Stay in touch with us!Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram and Facebook at MadeGreenewww.madegreene.com

Join Mary Jo and Anne's new broadcasting voice as they share an engaging baker's dozen of tried and tested activities that will get you and your early years learners outside-just perfect for pre-school, pre-kindergarten, kindergarten classes and even nursery school settings.Plus Mary Jo has beef with Fort Worth's new Trick or Treating signal, and Anne has been harvesting pomegranates!Podcast Outline04:42: Intro: 0:4201:53: Recap: Gardening with Early Learners - https://open.spotify.com/episode/2vkLB8U8PDPRAmpQW5dxNR?si=zvTtiCP_Q3y5Shk033v_1Q04:48: How was your week? 07:35: Sprouts Foundation Growing School Garden Summit: Link and Info here. School Garden Support Organization (SGSO) Network : Link and Info here. 09:46: Nature Sink or Float12:28: Acorns: Viable or Non-Viable14:37: Water Painting16:11: Mud Painting 18:53: Ice Observations19:52: Nature Treasure Tins24:16: Life in a Rotting Log26:17: Class Mystery Nature Box27:29: Adopt a Tree30:07: Beanie Babies33:00: Wishing Tree 35:10: Natural Fabric Dyes39:32: Buzzing Bees41:10: OutroStay in touch with us!Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram and Facebook at MadeGreenewww.madegreene.com 

Join Mary Jo and Anne as they discuss strategies, benefits and pointers to help ease our early years learners into the garden and outdoors. Plus, it’s finally fall! This episode is packed with final fall planting advice, and lots of conversation to help garden educators get our most curious gardeners out into the garden space and beyond. Podcast Outline00:42 - Intro01:27 - It’s Finally Fall 03:37 - Transplanting Brassicas05:36 - Anne’s Carrot Seed and Cardboard Trick06:50 - Garlic and Strawberries are Garden BFFs08:55 - Radishes and Time Lapse Videos https://www.youtube.com/Boxlapse10:24 - Shout Out to Muddy Pandas Garden Club11:09 - Shout Out to Sarah Houdmont - #1 Podcast Fan 11:58 - Introduction to Gardening and Outdoor Learning with Early Years Learners-ages 3 through Pre-K14:30 - Benefits for Gardening and Outdoor Learning with Early Years Learners17:40 - If it Doesn’t Happen at an Early Age, Let’s Not Assume it Will Happen at All 19:58 - You Don’t Have to Have a Garden - Just Go Outside20:19 - Make a Permanent Dig Bed in Your Space21:20 - Pointers and Strategies to Consider with Early Years Learners and the Outdoors28:43 - Start Simple …32:42 - Mary Jo and Anne’s Top Tip - Spray Bottles and Meeting Spots34:30 - OutroStay in touch with us!Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram and Facebook at MadeGreenewww.madegreene.com

The Great British Garden Visit Download episode. From The Garden Museum, to press visitors at the RHS Wentworth show, to peeking at the world of UK allotments and Mary Jo's meeting with BBC Gardeners World Adam Frost. Join us as we share details from our most wonderful week of all things English gardening!00:42- Introduction - Our English Garden Adventures and RHS Garden Show Download02:15 - The Garden Museum, London 04:11 - The Garden Museum Cafe and Restaurant --- SO good!04:47 - Kew Gardens (that's K.E.W, y'all)06:48 - Queen's Garden Kew09:10 - Garden in the UK11:53 - Intro into Allotment Gardens in the UK16:23 - RHS Show Wentworth Woodhouse, July 2025Wentworth WoodhouseBBC Gardeners World Adam Frost - such a lovely bloke!Hooton's Walled Nursery - Dean Charlton Garden Whispers Garden designed by Hyeyoung Choi and Yungil ChoiThe RHS Miners Garden designed by Chris Myers27:35 - Children and Community Growing Spaces at RHS Wentworth Woodhouse RHS Show 202532:59 - Interview - Girl Guiding North East - Community Cube at RHS Wentworth Woodhouse RHS Show 2025 82nd Doncaster Rangers37:13 - OutroStay in touch with us!Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram and Facebook at MadeGreenewww.madegreene.com

It’s time to celebrate and showcase your garden during school events. Join Anne and Mary Jo as they share ways to incorporate school gardens into carnivals, school open houses, Literacy Nights and the like, allowing your garden program to shine and become a true part of the school day and culture. Let your garden steal the show at every school event!Podcast Outline 00:42 - Introduction 02:41 - Episode Introduction: Integrating the Garden into School Life through School Events04:50 - Carnivals and Festivals: Tips and Considerations for Preparing, Supporting or Hosting an Event07:46 - Easy Garden Activities for Evening Events - Outside and Inside11:22 -  Other Activities and Extension Ideas17:56 - Tastings and Social Media20:26 - Episode Conclusion21:45 - Outro

From bed prep, to seed saving, and from what to plant now to a fun seed packet game, join Anne and Mary Jo as they talk all things fall to help you back into your school garden spaces. Warning! A dreadful amount of puns were used in the recording of this episode. Podcast outline00:45: Intro 03:48: What is left and what is going to come back in the garden08:38: Gone to Seed and Saving Seed11:43: Weed, Clear and Tidy13:54: Bed Prep, Soil and AmendmentsLava Sand infoGreensand infoAzomite info15:46 Compost: BasicsHighlighted Book: Pumpkin Jack by Will Hubbell18:21: What to Plant now Soil temperature article 24:55 : Planting Perennial Herbs and Plants26:10: Sowing Wildflowers and Other Seeds - Cold Stratification28:04: Seed Packet Games: Days to Maturity or Days to Harvest. Plus, Planting Calendars32:30: The Monarch Butterflies are here! Milkweed and Pollinator Plants35:14: Outro … and, sorry, more dreadful fall puns!

Getting back at it! Are you back on campus and raring to go? Overwhelmed at the thought of getting back into the garden? Join Anne and Mary Jo as they share suggestions and tips to help you get your garden and garden program back on track. With a little help from 1880s homesteading life, this episode will get you organized and back in the perfect frame of mind to ensure a successful growing year ahead!Podcast Outline00:42:     Season 2: Getting Back To It!02:45:     You Can't Do It Alone04:17:     Tidy Up Time and Garden Prep07:18:     Homestead Boosting!09:37:     Make A Plan12:19:     Community and Organizational Support13:11:      Make Connections With District Operations / Maintenance Providers15:54:      Lock In Dates Now17:30:      Think Funding19:29:      Think Planting Plans21:15:      Celebrate The Restart23:08:      Check Out Episode 5: How To Start A School Garden for more in depth details23:58:      Season Two: What To Look Forward To From The School Garden PodcastMary Jo's TV obsession: Back to the Frontier on HBO Max Funding Opportunity and Other Resources: KidsGardening Crow Leadership Academy's Garden: Buzzing Blossoms FaceBook PageStay in touch with us!Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram and Facebook at MadeGreenewww.madegreene.com

Garden Book fans ... It's The Sequel! It's our much anticipated Garden Book Read Aloud sequel episode. Join Anne and Mary Jo as they share another eight of their favorite and much loved garden read aloud books. From the tale of a tortured avocado to the heart warming account of gardening during the Great Depression, these books have something for every grade level and subject. Plus, listen to the end for details about how you can win copies of this episode's featured books - good luck!00:41:   Episode Introduction03:06:   Counting Creatures written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Sharon King- Chai06:10:   A Place to Grow by Stephanie Bloom and illustrated by Kelly Murphy08:39:   Cuando tu Abuela to Regla un Limonero escrito por Jamie LB Leenihan and illustrator por Lorraine Rocha11:29:   A Seed is Sleepy by Dianna Hutts Aston and Sylvia Long 13:29:   Avocado Asks by Momoko Abe 17:09    The Gardener by Sarah Stewart illustrated by David Small 20:18:   Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman 22:47:   Garden Wigglers by Nancy Loewen illustrated by Rick Peterson23:50:   Enter Our First Ever Book Giveaway! Head over to our Instagram Page at Made Greene and choose your favorite 4 books from today's episode! Good Luck!Check out Episode 3 for our first Garden Read Aloud book recommendations. Stay in touch with us!Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram and Facebook at MadeGreenewww.madegreene.com

Join Anne and Mary Jo as they discuss tasks, jobs and things to keep in mind when visiting or working in your school garden during the summer break. Everything from watering, harvesting, creating shade and obsessively referencing home-grown produce during every mealtime! Podcast Outline00:42: Intro01:28: Watering02:53: Weeding03:28: Solarizing05:50: Humidity06:00: Harvesting07:13: Putting Beds to Bed!07:48: Cover Cropping 09:06: What Can We Still Plant in the Summer? 10:40: Pests in the Garden13:01: Thinking and Planning for the Fall15:25: Making Shade17:48: Produce Slow-Down20:10: Pickle Update!22:56: Conclusion and Wishing Everyone a Great Summer Break … in the Garden or out. Pickle Recipes: Here is the recipe I used for the Dill Pickles. I particularly enjoyed putting in flowering dill heads into my brine as my plant is at this stage - it gave it such a mellow dill flavor. Here is the recipe I followed for the Bread and Butter Pickles (minus cloves, as I don’t like cloves and I went 1/3 less on the sugar). Stay in touch with us!Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram and Facebook at MadeGreenewww.madegreene.com

Join Anne and Mary Jo as they take time to reflect on this past school year in the garden. Listen as they discuss what went well, what didn’t, plans for the summer and goals for next year. Plus, throwing some controversial shade at pickleball!00:42 Introduction - Our Year End Reflections03:02: What Went Well This Year12:04: What Didn’t Go So Well18:00: Our Plans for the Summer Break22:00: Goals and Ambitions for Next School Year In The Garden31:38: Concluding ThoughtsEpisode ResourcesLearn more about the Ridglea Giving Garden here  Ridglea Giving GardenDetails for the RHS Flower Show at Wentworth Woodhouse RHS Flower Show Wentworth WoodhouseStay in touch with us!Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram and Facebook at MadeGreene www.madegreene.com

Join Anne and Mary Jo as they share rainy day indoor gardening ideas and activities for those occasions when you have to pivot and move gardening indoors … plus a generous helping of strawberry talk.. 00:47 - Hello01:27 - How Has Your Week Been? 04:53 - Gardening Indoors - Introduction07:03 - Fruit and Flower Dissection11:45 - Indoor Seed Activities 14:25 - Kitchen Scrap Science 19:54 - Rainy Day Poetry and Literacy Ideas24:27 - Earthworms and Earthworm Activities29:49 - Conclusion Episode ResourcesFind the Flourish Me seed packet PDF at  NC State University - Flourish Me - SEL Seed Packet Worksheet As they share on their website, The “Flourish Me” worksheet allows students to illustrate what conditions allow them to thrive as they grow and develop. Students will recognize that they likely flourish under different conditions than their peers, though we all have minimum needs that must be met.The Welman Project serve as a free resource for teachers, distributing surplus materials from local companies for creative reuse in the classroom and beyond. Learn more about Fort Worth's creative reuse space at ⁠The Welman Project.⁠Stay in touch with us!Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram and Facebook at MadeGreenewww.madegreene.com

Join Mary Jo and Anne for this quick dig episode as they share insight, tips and techniques to grow your very own sponges from a plant!  A trip to the bottom of the ocean is not necessary as we learn how you can grow, peel and scrub your way to growing loofah sponges in your school garden. Plus, great ideas for use in and out of the classroom. Podcast Outline01:02 - How Was your Week? 01:30 - Introduction to Luffas and Why Grow Luffas? 04:40 - Where do Luffas Grow? 05:22 - Sourcing Seed and Seed Viability06:40 - How to Grow Luffas10:37 - During the Growing Season12:31 - Growing Luffas to Full Maturity14:08 - Preparing the Sponges16:07 - Uses in School 17:59 - Final WordsContact Us!www.madegreene.comEmail us: [email protected] us on Instagram and Facebook at MadeGreene

Calling all our Watering Winners! It's warming up so join Mary Jo and Anne as they discuss all things water and become the H2HerO of your school garden space. Plus, Anne’s mom has the last word!Podcast Outline00:50: Intro and How Was Your Week?02:30: How to be a Watering Winner: Overview05:10: When Should We Water? 08:06: Rain Gauges09:37: Who is Going to Water?10:41: Rain v Tap Water13:29: Methods of Watering15:02: Rain Barrels17:53: Olla Pots21:06: How Long Do We Water For?24:17: Help! No Water26:17: Strategies for Watering with Kids and Groups30:15: Anne’s Mom Needs to Say Something!31:36: OutroOlla PotsCheck out our favorite Olla Pots at The Olla Company10% of any purchase from The Olla Company is donated to Made Greene to help fund our school garden programming. Website and Socialswww.madegreene.comEmail us: [email protected] us on Instagram and Facebook at MadeGreene

Quick growing spring crops, making firm summer plans, sleepy lettuce, James Bond and rhubarb, Texas style! Join Mary Jo and Anne as they guide you through the last few months of the school year in your school garden space. Podcast Outline:0:48 - Intro and How Was Your Week? 03:25 - Summer Planning and Spring Planting Overview08:04 - Spring Planting: Quick Cropping Vegetables and Plants11:17 - Bolting or Going to Seed12:44 - Quick Lettuce Story - Lettuce Article: A Wedge of History14:50 - Strategies for Managing Your Summer Garden: Summer Plans!15:21 - The Short Game Approach17:16 - The Medium Game Approach18:51 - The Long Game Approach21:10 - The Mixed Approach21:33 - Plea for Watering Help22:25 - Going Deeper: Rhubarb, Texas Style! Growing Rhubarb, Texas Style in North Texas: Texas A&M Article24:30 - Podcast Episode  Recommended: RHS Podcast Episode: The Dark Art of Rhubarb25:20 - Explaining the RHS Royal Horticultural Society - RHS25:56 - Anne and Mary Jo Are Going on Holiday! RHS Flower Show - Wentworth Woodhouse, South Yorkshire26:29 - Outro

Join us for another 10 minute Quick Dig episode: Thinning for the Win! Listen along as we discuss the importance of thinning seedlings in your school garden space. Anne and Mary Jo share methods, tips and tricks to help you thin plants, creating room for a perfectly spaced school garden harvest.  Podcast Outline: 0:48 - Introduction1:13 - Thinning for the Win!1:33 - The importance of thinning 2:08 - When to thin your seedlings2:26 - True leaves2:50 - How to thin5:24 - Strategies and techniques for thinning7:40 - OuttakesContact Us!www.madegreene.comEmail us: [email protected] us on Instagram and Facebook at MadeGreene

Join Mary Jo and Anne for our new 10 Minute Quick Dig episode as they give useful instructions, tips and tricks for successful outdoor seed sowing in your school garden space. 00:43 - Introduction01:43 -  10 Minute Quick Dig Introduction 02:03 - How to Sow Seeds Outdoors with Kids02:08 - Sowing Seed Definition03:37 - Seed Packets04:15 - Broadcast Sowing and Row Sowing - Techniques07:09 - Cover Crops and Broadcast Sowing07:55 - Top Tips for Sowing Seed07:58 - Overseed to Succeed08:16 - Bed Preparation 08:44 - Watering09:53 - Soaking SeedShow Notes: Website and Socialswww.madegreene.comEmail us: [email protected] us on Instagram and Facebook at MadeGreene

Join us as we discuss practical and tried and tested approaches to starting a successful school garden program. Whether you are starting a brand new school garden, reviving an old school garden plan or reviewing your existing program - this episode is for you! Podcast Outline:00:00 Welcome to the School Garden Podcast03:21 Are You Ready to Start, Revive or Review a School Garden?05:55 Different Purposes and Goals for your Outdoor Space10:35 Points to Consider when Choosing a Space for your Garden14:42 Designing the Layout of the Garden 18:37 Essential Tools for School Gardening20:38 Soil and Mulch: The Foundation of Your Garden23:20 Building a Support System for School Garden Program Sustainability26:48 Funding Your School Garden Efforts29:00 Garden Confession Time30:50 Concluding ThoughtsShow Notes: Request the School Garden Readiness Checklist at: [email protected] Websites Mentioned During Podcasts: Soils and Mulches: Silver Creek MaterialsVegetable plants and starts, seeds, and other garden materials: Russell Feed Networking and Resources: North Texas School Garden Network: NTxSGN Funding and Resources -  KidsGardening: Kids GardeningWebsite and Socialswww.madegreene.comEmail us: [email protected] us on Instagram and Facebook at MadeGreene

Join Anne and Mary Jo as they talk all things onions. Easy to grow, fun to watch, a fantastic winter crop to grow in North Texas and a firm favorite in any school garden space. Podcast outline:02:01 - Why grow onions?02:47 - What part of the onion do we eat? 03:38 - Onion Family03:56 - Planting onions04:44 - How do onions grow05:53 - Where to buy onion slips and sets06:38 - How to plant onions and connections to the classroom08:16 - Book Connection - Tops and Bottoms by Janet Stevens 09:39 - Caring for your onions as they grow10:25 - Watering12:00 - Signs of growth12:30 - Bolting, going to seed or putting up a flower14:55 - Harvesting19:00 - Funny story21:25 - Kid question:   Why do onions make you cry?Recommendations: Our favorite and recommended feed store in North Texas is Russell Feed and Supply. Find your local store here. www.madegreene.comEmail us: [email protected] us on Instagram and Facebook at MadeGreene

Join Mary Jo and Anne as they take reading and literacy into the garden space. In this Read Aloud Garden Book episode, listen along as they discuss their favorite books and share tried and tested accompanying activities. A must listen for all!  Chapters:0:15 - Intro1:20 - Read Alouds are so easy2:52 - The Sunflower House by Eve Bunting  5:38 - Senorita Mariposa by Ben Gundersheimer and Illustrated by Marcos Almada Rivero 11:03 - Sophie’s Squash by Pat Zietlow Miller and illustrated by Anne Wilsdorf 14:11 - Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert16:43 - The Enormous Potato by Aubrey Davis and illustrated by Dušan Petričić19:30 - What Do They Do With All That Poo? by Jane Kurts and Illustrated by Allison Black 22:40 - The Day The Farmer’s Quit by Autumn Pequignot and Illustrated by Kate Fallahee 25:23 - Top TipsMore Books and Resources: www.madegreene.comHighlighted Projects:  The Symbolic Monarch Migration Project is a partnership project between Journey North (a program of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum) and Monarchs Across Georgia (a committee of the nonprofit organization, the Environmental Education Alliance). Click here for more information. How to Make Story Walk: You Tube Video from Appalachian Regional Library Literacy Resources 

In this episode, Mary Jo and Anne talk all things potatoes and walk you through every step to grow this rewarding crop in your garden or on your school campus.  Chapters:  Introduction - 0:49 Why Should We Grow Potatoes in Schools? - 1:38 Connections to Curriculum - 3:05 Potatoes are a Hungry Crop - 05:20 DIfferent Varieties of Potatoes - 06:15 True Potato Seed or Seed Potatoes - 07:54 Buying the Right Kind of Seed Potato - 09:21 Chitting or Sprouting Seed Potatoes - 10:16 Cutting Seed Potatoes - 13:08 Where to Plant Potatoes - 14:50 Hilling, Banking or Earthing Up Potato Plants - 16:38  Harvesting Potatoes: 18:58 Finding the Mother Tuber - 22:50 Top Tips for Growing Success - 22:39 Have a Potato Party! - 25:26 Growing Potatoes with a Class of Kids - 27:28 Caution and Safety Notes: 28:10 Kid Question: What is the difference between Potatoes and Sweet Potatoes: 29:43 Ending Mentioned Books or Materials The Enormous Potato - Aubrey Davies purchase here* Recommended Fabric Growbags purchase here *Any commission earned from affiliate links goes to helping our school garden programs. Thank you! Further Resources:  www.madegreene.com Contact Us:  [email protected] Sponsors: Soon! Soon! Soon!

Join us as we talk about all things school gardens and growing with kids.  No matter where you are in your school garden journey, whether you are an experienced garden teacher, a novice parent helper, or a struggling home educator, we are here to help you and your kiddos in your garden space.  During our Launch Episode, you'll get to know our show hosts and school garden educators, Mary Jo and Anne and find out more about our program format and upcoming episodes. Upcoming podcasts will have everything you’ll need to know from seasonal planting guides, to curriculum ideas and activities, from garden how-tos to expert advice with a generous sowing of stories and garden chat along the way.  Come and dig in with us because school gardens matter!