DOUBLE TAP TO ZOOM WITH PHONE OR TABLET The Role of the Teacher Teachers initially may be hesitant to take on a classroom garden, particularly if they haven’t had any personal experience with gardening. They may question whether they know enough about growing plants to teach children. All of us have had the experience of obtaining a plant only to have it inexplicably die. Teachers tell us all the time, “I can’t grow anything. I have a black thumb.” We want to reassure you that your past experience doesn’t matter and that you don’t have to be successful in everything you try to grow with children. Some things work; some don’t turn out so well. It is about the journey, and everyone can go on a journey. What the Teacher Needs to Know The best thing about gardening with children is that anyone can do it. Even if you have never planted a seed, you have what it takes as long as you have a positive attitude and the will to learn. When we started our first garden, only Karen had a real horticultural background. Sara’s gardening experience was limited to small projects with preschool children and to growing roses at home. And although Marla had grown up working in gardens on the farm with her parents and grandparents, she didn’t garden at all when our initial 14  •  Chapter 1 COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL