56: Should You Start a School Garden as a Club? (The Truth You Need to Hear)

Thinking about starting your school garden as an eco club or lunchtime green team? You’re not alone—but this episode will change the way you see that common approach. In this bold and honest episode, Leila Mireskandari breaks down why growing a school garden as a club fails most of the time, and why classroom-based gardens are the real path to success.

Drawing from over a decade of hands-on experience, Leila shares:

• Why garden clubs often lead to teacher burnout and abandoned garden beds
• The key logistical issues that clubs can’t overcome (like weather, student consistency, and time)
• Real feedback from teachers who tried to grow gardens in clubs—and what went wrong
• Why her programs are classroom-based on purpose
• What structure you actually need to grow a successful school garden with ease

If you’ve ever wondered whether a garden club could work—or if you’ve tried and burned out—this episode will help you reframe and restart the right way.

🌱 Key Takeaways:

• Garden clubs are a popular but flawed approach to school gardening.
• Classroom-based gardening offers the consistency and structure needed for success.
• Most club structures don’t provide enough time, weather flexibility, or curriculum alignment.
• Teachers need to stop blaming programs for failing in clubs—when it’s the structure that’s the issue.
• Want a thriving school garden? Integrate it into your class time.

📚 Resources Mentioned:

• Oasis Classroom Program – Leila’s classroom-based school garden program designed for teachers, by a teacher
• How to Pitch Your School Garden Project – A free guide to help you get admin and parent buy-in