In 2022, my husband and I stood on a dry patch of land with a few shovels, big dreams, and the kind of determination you can't buy. Just two of us began digging swales by hand. We knew that if we could slow the water- sink it into our soil - we could bring life back to this old farmland. It was the start of a permaculture-based community garden: Gardner Farmschool.
The Inspiration
The idea sprouted from a simple observation: Families today are disconnected from Nature and from their communities. As a mom, a nurse, and a doctoral holistic medicine student, I know we need those connections to thrive.
Further, in the metro Atlanta area, where we began the garden, 1 in 5 children suffers from food insecurity and that number is rising. Food banks in Atlanta reported a 60% increase in families requesting assistance in 2025.
I thought- what better way to connect with families in my community than starting a community garden that provides fresh food and eggs...and also brings us together for the social connection we all crave?
We founded Gardner Farmschool to help bridge these gaps and give kids and families hands-on experiences with gardening and farming.
The Transformation
Fast forward to 2024, our once-barren acre now hums with bees, butterfly wings, and over 50 fruit and shade trees. This past year alone, our garden produced over 1500 pounds of fresh food—and something more valuable: a stronger, more connected community.
This is the beginning of our story. And we want you to be part of what's growing.
Gardner Farmschool: Where Education Grows in the Garden
Gardner Farmschool is an educational garden initiative. We started with a dream to serve community families with fresh produce. But more than that, we wanted to serve connection- with each other and with Mother Nature.
We transformed our garden into a living classroom, where children and community members alike could learn by doing. Our community families have helped plant seeds, tended trees, and discovered the origins of their food.
Our Mission
At Gardner Farmschool, learning goes hand-in-hand with digging in the dirt. Our mission is to inspire curiosity, healthy habits, and respect for nature through farm-based education. Each session in the garden is an opportunity for students to explore science (like how earthworms improve soil) and practice math (counting seeds or measuring plant growth) in a fun, real-world context. Little farmers also gain a sense of responsibility as they care for living plants.
We believe that when children get the chance to grow their own food, something amazing happens: vegetables go from “yucky” to exciting, and lessons about nutrition and sustainability truly stick. Research supports this approach – kids are far more likely to try (and enjoy) fresh fruits and veggies when they've grown them themselves. By involving students in every step of the growing process, Gardner Farmschool helps them understand where food comes from and why it matters.
Community and Sustainability
Community and sustainability are at the heart of our project. Gardner Farmschool isn't just a garden; it's a gathering place. Parents, teachers, volunteers, and students all come together in the dirt – planting, learning, and sharing. These interactions strengthen community bonds and create a supportive learning environment for children.
As one national farm-to-school advocate put it, school garden programs can become “spaces where students develop a sense of empathy and empowerment” by growing food and sharing it with others. That spirit is central to our philosophy.
We see our garden as a seedbed for both plants and positive change: fostering healthier lifestyles, environmental stewardship, and social connection.
In the posts to come, we'll be sharing more about why farm-based learning is so powerful and how you can get involved in our growing community.
Welcome to Gardner Farmschool – let's grow something great together!