School Garden Conference 2025

NOURISHING CONNECTION - Grow, Cook, Thrive: Be inspired and find community as we learn the importance of school gardening to promote healthy eating, nutrition, and cooking here in San Diego County.

San Diego native, Kimberly Orias is the Executive Director of Sage Garden Project. Kimberly comes with a richness and diversity of experience in business, teaching, and not-for-profit work. Kimberly has been identified as a trusted and dedicated leader, a nourishing communicator and a joy to be around. She loves traveling and tasting food from around the world and is happiest feeding the people she loves.

CREATING YOUR SCHOOL GARDEN: Introduces the basics of creating a school garden, what to consider, how and what to plan. Also, how to make the garden accessible for all ages and abilities. Plug into resources to help make it happen.

Nate Northup is a UC Master Gardener of San Diego County, Class of 2020 and a retired trial attorney. He now enjoys playing in his yard and garden and supporting non-profits.
Stephen is a UC Master Gardener of San Diego County, Class of 2008 and a journeyman carpenter, wheelchair athlete and two-time Paralympian. He gardens on a 2 acre plot and maintains 35+ fruit trees, cactus and vegetable garden.

NGSS IN THE GARDEN (Next Generation Science Standards): How to use the garden for science instruction. Discusses how to build student explorations in the garden as well as bring garden phenomena back into the classroom.

Crystal Starr Howe has been a science educator in San Diego for over 20 years. While teaching high school science, she learned that our students need a greater understanding of their connection to the natural world. In her current role as the environmental literacy coordinator for San Diego County Office of Education, Crystal's focus is to support teachers to use an environmental lens to inspire kids across the content areas and grades.

GETTING STARTED WITH CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANTS: Plants that are native to California developed in a unique ecology that makes them different from traditional garden plants and landscapes. By emulating nature and paying attention to their singular needs, schools can establish a beautiful California native landscape.

Lucy Warren has been a UC Master Gardener of San Diego County for 21 years. She is a nature, plant and garden enthusiast and writer with a special interest in California native plants. 

EVIDENCE IN BLOOM: Exploring the Research-Backed Benefits of School Gardens for Health, Learning & Well-Being We will be reviewing the research that addresses the impact of school gardens and outdoor education on the health and well-being of our children. We will explore the effects on physical development, mood, attention span, sleep cycles, immune system development, nutritional choices, and educational achievement.

Dr. Cynde Lane is a retired pediatrician and passionate gardener with nine years of experience cultivating school gardens to enrich children's learning. She champions outdoor education, believing nature is a vital classroom for nurturing healthy, curious minds. Her work bridges medicine, horticulture, and advocacy to help kids grow - inside and out.

FRUIT TREES IN THE SCHOOL GARDEN: This interactive presentation will guide school teachers through the essentials of planting, caring for, and integrating fruit trees into a school garden program. We will explore how to select the right varieties for your climate, prepare and plant successfully, provide proper irrigation and nutrition, manage pests safely around children, and create seasonal maintenance plans that fit the school calendar.

Jackie Seidman is passionate about gardening, but especially edible gardening. She owns a landscape design business and has been a Master Gardener for 24 years.

IRRIGATION IN THE SCHOOL GARDEN: Mike will discuss the basics of irrigation in school gardens, bringing samples of equipment and ideas for educators.  He will also introduce a website developed by Hunter Industries for schools and discuss how to use it to support irrigation at the educators’ schools.

Mike Madewell is a sales manager at Hunter Industries. With experience in wholesale greenhouse and nursery operations, residential and commercial landscape design, construction and maintenance (QWEL, CWM, CIT), Mike has spent the last 20 years at Hunter in tech services and outside sales. His main focus has been teaching Irrigation design, troubleshooting, and best management practices to contractors and municipal employees both here in the United States and all over Mexico in English and Spanish.

SUSTAINING YOUR SCHOOL GARDEN: How to grow and develop your garden program and suggestions on how to retrofit areas for more accessibility. Where might you improve, using overlooked resources, and related topics.

Nate Northup is a UC Master Gardener of San Diego County, Class of 2020 and a retired trial attorney. He now enjoys playing in his yard and garden and supporting non-profits.
Stephen is a UC Master Gardener of San Diego County, Class of 2008 and a journeyman carpenter, wheelchair athlete and two-time Paralympian. He gardens on a 2 acre plot and maintains 35+ fruit trees, cactus and vegetable garden.

LITERACY IN THE SCHOOL GARDEN: Using Garden-Related Picture Books to Connect Hands, Heads and Hearts in the Garden. Participants will learn ways to use picture books as mentor texts to connect indoor and outdoor learning in the school garden.

Cindy Jenson-Elliott is a credentialed teacher, environmental educator, writing instructor, poet, and the author of 18 informational and nonfiction books for children. Her acclaimed 2014 picture book, Weeds Find a Way won numerous prestigious awards, including the National Council of Teachers of English Best Book. Cindy has taught literature, science, gardening, and writing at the elementary, middle, and high school grade levels, as well as in nature centers, camps, and universities across California.

POLLINATORS AND THE PLANTS THAT SUPPORT THEM: Pollinating insects have adapted to the flowers that sustain them, producing some truly spectacular results. Come explore the beautiful and fascinating world that exists right in your own backyard, using our discovery scopes to see up close the way native plants are designed to partner with local insects to keep both species thriving.

Miranda Halverson chartered the first and only chapter of Wild Ones, a native plant organization, in California as part of her Master's thesis project for Conservation Biology. She continues her ongoing quest to combine education, entertainment and science for everyone.

ORGANIC WASTE TO RESOURCE: CLIMATE CHANGE AND SOIL HEALTH This presentation will provide an introduction to SB1383, organic waste recycling and climate change and environmental dynamics. Additionally we will discuss and brainstorm on-site food scrap recycling and the green bin/dumpster. Participants will be provided a training the trainer kit to integrate these critical concepts and practices into their schools.

Dr. Emily Creegan is a biomass utilization expert. She is the Schools Team lead for the California Association of Compost Producers, a non-profit organization that works to advance organics recycling and compost processing and utilization.

INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT IN SCHOOL GARDENS: This presentation introduces Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies tailored for school gardens, emphasizing safe, environmentally friendly approaches to managing pests. Participants will learn how to identify beneficial insects, use cultural and physical controls, and minimize chemical use while protecting student health. Practical, hands-on tips will help educators and students work together to keep school gardens thriving.

Leah Taylor is the current program coordinator for the UC Master Gardener Program of San Diego County. She is an enthusiastic entomologist, with extensive research into honey bees, ants, and palm weevils.

EXPLORING SCHOOLYARDS THROUGH THE LENS OF NATURE: Techniques will be introduced that are student and nature-centered that inspire curiosity and wonder, and help hone observations skills. Basics of nature journaling will be reviewed with opportunities to practice new skills and share different approaches to record discoveries.

Tara Fuad is an outdoor enthusiast committed to outdoor learning opportunities for all. She collaborates with school districts, recreation centers, libraries, other non-profits and families to increase meaningful outdoor experiences for youth. She also co-chairs the Environmental Educator Leaders Network in partnership with the SD County Office of Education.

PRESCHOOL - KINDERGARTEN:
Networking, Lessons and Activities.
Attendees will sign up for their grade level for networking, sample of teaching lessons, and grade-appropriate activities.

A facilitator will be assigned who will encourage interactive conversations for each grade level group, followed by an activity.

PRIMARY GRADES K, 1, 2:
Networking, Lessons and Activities.
Attendees will sign up for their grade level for networking, sample of teaching lessons, and grade-appropriate activities.

A facilitator will be assigned who will encourage interactive conversations for each grade level group, followed by an activity.

INTERMEDIATE GRADES 3-5:
Networking, Lessons and Activities.
Attendees will sign up for their grade level for networking, sample of teaching lessons, and grade-appropriate activities.

A facilitator will be assigned who will encourage interactive conversations for each grade level group, followed by an activity.

LESSONS BEYOND THE CLASSROOM FOR NON-TEACHERS AND GARDEN COORDINATORS:
Networking, Lessons and Activities.
Attendees will sign up for their grade level for networking, sample of teaching lessons, and grade-appropriate activities.

A facilitator will be assigned who will encourage interactive conversations for each grade level group, followed by an activity.

MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL:
Networking, Lessons and Activities.
Attendees will sign up for their grade level for networking, sample of teaching lessons, and grade-appropriate activities.

A facilitator will be assigned who will encourage interactive conversations for each grade level group, followed by an activity.