Life Lab

Life Lab cultivates children's love of learning, healthy food, and nature through garden-based education.

Category : Garden Tips & Resources

Spanish Language Garden Resources

  See English language version of this list Redes y Herramientas Para Buscar Recursos Sobre Huertos Escolares y Educación en Nutrición Red Internacional de Huertos Escolares una herramienta para el intercambio de experiencias, recursos e inspiración. Big [...]

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Garden-Based Learning Literature Lists

GARDEN-BASED LEARNING LITERATURE LISTS American Horticulture Society/Jr. Master Gardeners Growing Good Kids Book List GrowingMinds.org Farm to School Literature List. Includes books in Spanish. Favorite Books for Kids and Their Educators  from City [...]

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Gardens for Learning – Guide Book

Gardens for Learning Created in partnership with Life Lab, Gardens for Learning is a comprehensive guide for Creating & Sustaining School Gardens A comprehensive guide developed by experts to be a must-have resource for anyone starting or enhancing school garden [...]

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Garden for Learning Book


Harvesting

Harvesting Harvesting food straight from the garden is a powerful act. For many kids the school garden classroom is the only place they will experience eating “straight off the vine.”  Students who harvest straight from the garden are often more adventurous [...]

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Soil & Garden Beds

Soil & Garden Beds Our Resources VIDEO: Making Raised Beds and Using Containers (below) VIDEO: Soil and Bed Preparation (below) GARDENS FOR LEARNING: Chapter 7 - Planting Your School Garden, pp. 56-59 CSYSG TRAINING HANDOUTS: Download on botto [...]

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Maintaining Your Garden

Maintain Your Garden Watering Your Garden Savingwater.org How to save water with drip irrigation and sprinklers. Dripworks.com Planning and sales of drip irrigation supplies BeWaterWise.com In depth information on how to save water in your garden. W [...]

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kids in the garden


Seedling & Transplanting

Seedlings & Transplants Our Resources VIDEO: Starting Seeds and Transplanting(below) VIDEO: Water Drip & Irrigation (below) GARDENS FOR LEARNING: Chapter 7 - Planting Your School Garden, pp. 59-68 Life Lab's Choosing Plants and Planting Times [...]

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Seeding


Finding Supplies & Budgeting Resources

Finding Supplies & Budgeting Resources Budgeting ResourcesDownload this School Garden Materials and Resource Guide to help you create a budget of school garden program supplies.School Garden Planning and Budgeting tool from Green Education Foundation which include [...]

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Healthy Fundraisers

Healthy Fundraisers Fundraising Idea ListsThe Center for Science in The Public Interest has a one page Fundraising Options Available to Schools  a two page School Fundraisers Can Be Healthy and Profitable and a more detailed 70 page report document entitled SW [...]

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Design Your School Garden Space

Design Your School Garden Space Our ResourcesGARDENS FOR LEARNING: Chapter 5 - Designing Your School GardenEducational Garden Design Elements ListPRESENTATION: CSYSG School Garden Design Element PowerPointGarden Design Resources Online or for DownloadAt Life Lab y [...]

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Gardening and Fruit Tree Care Resources from the UCSC Farm

Gardening and Fruit Tree Care Resources from the UCSC Farm Garden The UCSC Farm & Garden has been learning, teaching and sharing best practices for growing vegetables, flowers and fruit trees since 1967. The following resources and video playlists have been cura [...]

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UCSC Farm


Family Gardening Resources and Webinars

Family Garden Activities www.backpocketlearning.org searchable database of easy to do activities www.kidsgardening.org large collection of resources and gardening how to’s Looking for resources in Spanish? Check out this list of Spanish language garden-based le [...]

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Boy with Cup


Edible Crop Planning

Edible Crop PLanning Webinar Life Lab Educator John Fisher shares tips to plan an edible crop plan for a school year calendar. This video was created for the 2020 FoodCorps Service Member National Training. This 15 minute video shares concepts and resources relate [...]

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Edible Crop Planning


Raising Backyard Chickens

Raising Backyard Chickens Learn what it takes to raise your own backyard chickens. Life Lab provides tips about setting up your chicken coop and caring for your flock. This hour long presentation is shared by Life Lab Educators and longtime backyard chicken caretake [...]

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chicken


Paper Pots

Paper PotsMake paper pots with your kids and learn about reusing newspaper to help your garden grow! Ages 5+, 30 min+ Reuse newspaper to help get your seeds started in a pot you can make at home with your kids.  There is no need to go out and buy small pots when y [...]

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Amazing Reseeding Annuals

Reseeding AnnualsI call them "amazing" because this bunch of plants has the ability to surprise and delight every year that they return to the garden! Self-sowing, or reseeding plants create seeds that re-emerge as plants year after year. Some gardeners refer to these p [...]

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Mini Bouquet


Whole Class Garden Caretaker Activities

As part of a University of California Global Food Initiative project that we collaborated on with UC Davis and UC Berkeley, we created the the following activity guides for undergraduates to lead local school children in garden caretaking. These UCSC students are part o [...]

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kids in the garden


Make a Weather Station

Incorporating climate science into a classroom or garden is a fun and enriching way to heighten students' awareness of the natural world around them. Weather stations are compact and versatile and are an excellent tool for teaching children about weather patterns and da [...]

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Make a Weather Station


Independent Stations – Caretaking and Monitoring the Garden

A garden classroom is wonderful space for children to "take ownership" of a corner of their school. Here are examples and resources for independent stations that contribute to garden caretaking and/or engage students in the scientific practice of observation. Many of th [...]

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kids composting


Whitney Cohen on Garden Based Education – An Urban Farm U Podcast

Whitney Cohen on Garden Based Education Examining school garden support organizations to promote natural world learning. Whitney is a teacher, trainer, and author with tremendous commitment to, and expertise in, inquiry- and place-based education; strategies for en [...]

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Whitney Cohen


Webinar: Innovative Ways to Fund Your School Garden

View the archived webinar at EdWeb Growing School Gardens Community www.edweb.net/schoolgardens. Life Lab curates the following resources at the Collective School Garden Network: Finding Funds for School Gardens at www.csgn.org/funding-school-gardens More on [...]

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Summer Vacation for Your School Garden

Summer Vacation for Your Garden- Adapted from The Life Lab Garden Times, Spring 2003. Here are some ideas to keep your garden maintained during the summer so that your fall garden will be full of treats to harvest instead of weeds. Garden Guardians Have families [...]

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Outdoor Classroom Management Webinar

View Life Lab and EdWeb's Growing School Garden Community webinar on Outdoor Classroom Management View the archived webinar here! View all our webinars. View Life Lab's resources on effective outdoor classroom management Presenters: Whitney Cohen, Education Dir [...]

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girl with binoculars


Steps to a Successful Garden Workday

-by John Fisher Life Lab's Director of Partnerships and Programs This post is part of our Sustaining School Gardens Series Over the years I have led many garden workdays at the Life Lab Garden Classroom and school gardens across California. In addition to the obv [...]

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kids in the garden


How Do Schools Compost?

A senior intern at Life Lab, Savannah Rugg, created a composting in schools survey (still open!) to better understand how composting functions in schools and school-districts. The survey asks questions regarding types of composting, compost materials, compost management [...]

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Types of School Composts chart


The Ultimate School Composting Resource Page

School Compost Survey: A summary of  school compost survey are described on this blog page. Check it out to see how compost functions in schools! The survey is still open and we would love to hear about your school compost. Whether you are attempting to cut your schoo [...]

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Saving Water in the Garden

The newest sign in our Garden Sign collection is designed by National Geographic Scientific Illustrator Jose Miguel Mayo and demonstrates tips and tools for saving water. View all our Garden Sign Designs. Tips for Saving Water in the Garden Plant native and dr [...]

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saving water in the garden chart


Fall 2013 Newsletter

View our September 2013 Newsletter View newsletter archives Program Updates Meet Faith - Support our Work Summer Accomplishments Announcing the National School Garden Network The Top Ten of Farm- and Garden-Based Education Garden Tips and Educator Resources [...]

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Detergent Bottle Watering Can

Watering is an activity that kids can do by themselves, with little or no instruction. Having kids water their garden instills a care taking ethic. Kids love to water and having a watering can for every kid makes it even more fun! By collecting the right types of bot [...]

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Spring 2013 Newsletter

View The May 2013 Garden Times - Life Lab's Newsletter Program Updates What We Have Been Up To Since Our Last Newsletter Meet our Senior Program Associate - Amber Turpin and her baby Hazel Update on the California School Garden Training Program California Foo [...]

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School Garden Design Webinar

Life Lab's John Fisher led a photo filled webinar on School Garden Design as part of EdWeb's Growing School Gardens Community. Design Ideas for a Fun, Successful Instructional School Garden Webinar shares school garden design elements from school gardens across the n [...]

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December 2012 Life Lab Newsletter

  You don't want to miss our December 2012 Newsletter. In This Issue Garden Tips and Educator Resources Planting Fruits Trees and Vines in School Gardens Sustaining School Gardens - Funding Garden Coordinators Book Review: Our School Garden! Recipe: H [...]

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Sustaining School Gardens – Funding Garden Coordinators

Model Policies and Organizations from Across the Country Written by Whitney Cohen. Life Lab Education Director School gardens are fantastic! (To be convinced, view The Garden, A Master Teacher) But that's not what this article's about, so let me start over. School g [...]

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100 Plus Years of Garden-Based Learning

​Check out the Chard those kids are holding!! And we thought that our 35 plus years of school garden work at Life Lab was a long time. Browse through these school garden publications from a 100+ years ago! There are some great illustrations and images in many [...]

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Summer 2012 Newsletter

  You don't want to miss our Summer 2012 Newsletter. In This Issue Garden Tips and Educator Resources Seed Saving Resources and Video Growing Questions - Inquiry in the Garden Teaching at a Farmer's Market Recipes: Zucchini Baba Ganoush and More Disc [...]

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Seed Saving Resources

Educator Resources for Teaching About Seeds A Handful of Seeds: Seed-Saving and Seed Study for Educators - free download with practical information on seed saving in the school garden and seed history and lore. Fedco Seeds has a nice collection of resources [...]

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Growing Questions – Inquiry in the Garden

When kids explore Life Lab's Garden Classroom, questions naturally bubble to the surface. Giant drops of water on kohlrabi leaves, gophers peering out of their holes, and hummingbirds drinking from flower vases seem to ignite their curiosity. In most residential garden [...]

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Spring 2012 Newsletter

  View Newsletter View Archives     Garden Tips and Recipe Make a Human Sundial Edible Crop Planning Recipe - Kale Salad Program Updates The Book of Garden Projects for Kids Update on the California School Garden Training Progra [...]

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Make A Human Sundial

The human sundial in our garden never fails to fascinate children and adults alike. To use it a person stands on the appropriate month marked on the ground and their shadow is cast on a numbered marker that tells the time. A human sundial or analemmatic sundial diff [...]

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2012 Winter Newsletter

You don't want to miss our Winter 2012 Newsletter. In This Issue Garden Tips and Lessons Lesson - Six Seed Trail Mix Making Garden Signs - Tips and Photos Lesson Packet - Feeling Fine With Fresh Foods Recipe - Winter Squash Teacakes Program Updates 2011 Pr [...]

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2 days ago

Life Lab

Registration is now open for our Certified Garden Educator Course!!! Don’t wait, space is limited and is expected to sell out! Click the Cert Course link in our profile or visit lifelab.org/educator-certification-program for course and registration info. Here’s what past participants are saying🌱 "The coaching sessions were very helpful! I would end a coaching session so motivated and ready to try the new things I learned!"🌱 "This is the best course! We use elements from this course every day! Thank you!"🌱 "I am LOVING these courses. I finally feel like I have a tribe of people who understand what it is we are trying to do." 🌱 “I am constantly amazed at how thoughtfully and meaningfully entwined you make garden education pollinated with math, science, social-emotional learning, and literacy.”We hope you can join us!

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3 weeks ago

Life Lab

🌱 Registration for our Garden Educator Certification Course opens on Monday, May 15th! 🌱 Our 6th cohort begins September 5, 2023.Details, registration info, and more can be found here in our profile link or visit: lifelab.org/educator-certification-program/Here’s what members of our first 5 cohorts are saying…🌱 I am LOVING these courses. I finally feel like I have a [group]of people who understand what it is we are trying to do.🌱Being in this course, I’ve really started to identify as a garden educatorand not just someone who maintains the garden.🌱I love how this course has provided me with the tools to inspire students to learn and have fun in the garden. 🌱The online sessions are inclusive, fun, move at a good pace and are interesting.

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3 months ago

Life Lab

Join our team! Life Lab is hiring!!! Open positions include Development Director, Bilingual Community Liaison, and Garden Instructors. More positions are coming soon! 🌱Apply now! Click link in our bio or visit lifelab.org/jobs🌱Or tag your friends below and help share this exciting opportunity!

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3 months ago

Life Lab

Please join us & @greenschoolyards on March 8 at 11:00 AM PT for the first installment of a five-part webinar series on the wide-ranging benefits of the Living Schoolyards Act, a groundbreaking bill that will direct important federal resources towards transforming school grounds into living schoolyards.This session will focus on the equity, educational, and academic benefits of living schoolyards and feature speakers from @thenaaee @tenstrands @naturebasededucation and Life Lab. 🌱Register for this free lecture series and learn more about how you can help us build support for the Living Schoolyard Act: www.greenschoolyards.org/living-schoolyards-act

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3 months ago

Life Lab

Register now for our Responsive Classroom Management in the Outdoors Workshop and receive an Early-Bird Registration Discount! 🌱When? April 21st, 9:30AM-3:30PM Where? Life Lab’s Garden Classroom, located on the beautiful campus of UCSC. What? How can we possibly manage 30 students in an Outdoor Classroom?! Participants in this workshop will explore best practices for establishing and maintaining a positive, engaging culture of learning and fun in a garden setting. Together we will experience and discuss setting the tone for equitable and inclusive instruction; garden class routines; station rotations; and specific techniques to maximize student engagement and participation. Graduate education units available. 🌱 To register and for more details please visit: lifelab.org/responsive-classroom-management-the-in-outdoors/For registration info on other upcoming Life Lab workshops please visit: lifelab.org/gcworkshops/

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4 months ago

Life Lab

🌱Calling all Garden Educators!🌱We are excited to announce Life Lab’s 2023 Workshop schedule! Join us for a workshop at our Garden Classroom to get inspiration and information on bringing learning to life in the garden! 2023 Workshops:🌻 Responsive Classroom Management 4/21/23 🌱The Growing Classroom 8/24-8/25/23🔎 NGSS 9/14/23🍎 Plant to Plate 10/12/23To register and for more info please visit: lifelab.org/gcworkshops P. S. Sign up 14 days in advance to receive a discount on your registration! #LifeLab #gardeneducation #gardeneducator #outdoorclassroom #education #schoolgarden #gardeninginschools #gardenclassroom #cookingclassroom

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7 months ago

Life Lab

Become a Life Lab Certified Gardener! 🌱🌻Based on the success of our first four cohorts of Life Lab-Certified Garden Educators, we are excited to announce that registration is now open for individuals to register and be part of our fifth cohort starting January 23rd, 2023! We’ve put together a series of 4 on-line courses that will guide and support educators in becoming a Life Lab-Certified School Garden Educator. Upon successful completion of the 4 courses, participants will receive a certificate and the distinction of being a Life Lab-Certified Garden Educator. Each course will last 4 weeks long and include 4 synchronous meetings, at-home work, and a unique coaching model. The total commitment for the full series is 16 weeks. Check out our website for more information! Registration for the full certification series is now open. Please share with others who are looking for ideas and inspiration in the garden! There are 24 spots available and we sold out in our last 4 certification series. We hope you can join us!Life Lab offers a limited number of course fee reductions based on need and anticipated impact. To apply for financial assistance, follow the link below. Scholarship applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis between now and December 1st, 2022 or until all funds have been awarded.

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8 months ago

Life Lab

Thanks Shmuel! and all those that joined the Starlight workday.

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Stock up your Garden Classroom

Life Lab 40th
Life Lab’s 40th Gala – Sunday, October 13th  Celebrate 40 years of bringing learning to life in gardens. Learn more  
Life Lab's 40th Gala
Life Lab provides truly inspiring training. Their breadth of experience, joy for teaching, and commitment to sharing knowledge highlight the best practices in food and garden education.
Erica CurryTraining and Professional Development ManagerFoodCorps
Thank you for such a wonderful field trip experience! Your leaders did such a great job at keeping our kids engaged.
Sheila BrickenKindergarten TeacherSan Lorenzo Valley Elementary
Terry had another awesome two weeks at Life Lab. I think he learns more there than in any other part of his year. School is great, but he’s passionate (and often dogmatic) about what he learns there.
Tara NeierCamp ParentSummer camp mom
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