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School Gardens with Ease
Discover how to effortlessly integrate school gardens into your elementary or middle school curriculum with the School Gardens with Ease Podcast. This podcast is your go-to resource for creating flourishing and productive food gardens that provide long-term educational benefits. Learn tips, strategies, and insights to help you grow and maintain a sustainable school garden that enhances your teaching and inspires students for years to come.
School Gardens with Ease
49: Biodiverse School Gardens
The Secret to Low-Maintenance, Biodiverse School Gardens
In this episode of School Gardens with Ease, host Leila Mireskandari dives into the concept of biodiversity and how it can be the game-changing secret to creating thriving, low-maintenance school gardens. Drawing from her background in Permaculture, Leila explains how the principles of observing nature, using renewable resources, and integrating diverse plant species can transform school gardens into lush, self-sustaining ecosystems.
Leila discusses four key Permaculture principles that align with biodiversity:
- Observe and Interact – How learning from nature can foster hands-on learning experiences for students.
- Apply Self-Regulation and Accept Feedback – The power of a growth mindset in gardening and education.
- Use and Value Renewable Resources and Services – The benefits of inviting natural helpers like pollinators and pest predators.
- Integrate Rather Than Segregate – The ancient wisdom behind companion planting techniques like the Three Sisters and why diverse plant groupings create stronger, healthier gardens.
Leila also highlights how integrating plants like tomatoes, marigolds, basil, and beans can deter pests naturally, reducing the need for summer maintenance and chemical interventions. Plus, she explains how inviting beneficial insects like ladybugs can keep aphid populations under control, freeing up teachers’ time and reducing stress over summer garden upkeep.
Resources Mentioned:
Listen to this episode to learn how to harness biodiversity in your school garden, making it more resilient, educational, and magical for your students.
Subscribe to School Gardens with Ease for more practical gardening tips tailored for teachers.