Part of the newsletter series, “What can PHHI do for you?”

A thriving school garden doesn’t just grow plants — it grows opportunities for hands-on learning, student engagement and deeper connections to STEM, nutrition and environmental literacy. To support educators in making the most of their garden spaces, the Plants for Human Health Institute (PHHI) offers garden-focused professional development designed specifically for schools.

Our goal through professional development offerings is to support educators, garden coordinators and school districts looking to expand or elevate their garden-based learning programs. We pride ourselves on hands-on workshops that meet educators where they are (green thumbs and brown thumbs welcome!).

Topic-Based School Garden Workshops

These sessions are ideal for teachers, garden leads, and administrators who want practical strategies they can apply immediately. These workshops are flexible in length and format, making them easy to fit into district PD days, teacher workdays, or after-school training blocks.

Topics include:

• Creating Native Pollinator Gardens
• Planning & Designing School Garden Spaces
• Connecting Curriculum to the Garden
• Strategies for Student Engagement & Classroom Management Outdoors
• And many more…

Customized Workshops for Schools & Districts

One of PHHI’s greatest strengths is the ability to design custom professional development tailored to the needs of individual schools or entire districts. PHHI’s team can come on-site to your school or host at your local Cooperative Extension office.

Request a personalized workshop that fits your:

• Garden size and current condition
• Grade levels and curriculum goals
• Preferred instructional focus (STEM, SEL, health, literacy, etc.)
• Specific challenges (maintenance, classroom management, scheduling, soil issues, etc.)
• Long-term goals, such as expanding the garden or layering in more classes

Let’s Grow Our Skills Together

As we continue building a strong, connected school garden network, professional development is one of the most powerful tools we have. PHHI’s workshops offer practical, research-based strategies that help educators make the garden a meaningful extension of the classroom.