Over 200 educators and school garden enthusiasts gathered on Friday, March 13 for the 2026 Minnesota School Garden Conference.
This conference kicked off with a welcome from Sue Knott, Education Specialists with Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom and Land Acknowledgement and grounding from Kate Seybold, Farm to Institution Coordinator and Cyndi Bergloff, Tribal Liaison from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Conference sponsors were also acknowledged:
Attendees were challenged to network and gain new strategies for building, maintaining and engaging K-12 learners in growing and garden environments throughout the conference.
Three types of professional development sessions were offered to attendees throughout the day:
- 75-minute immersive learning sessions focused on pollinators at the Farm at the Arb Tashjian Bee and Pollinator Center
- 45-minute breakout sessions focused on learning activities and growing strategies
- 12–15-minute lightening talks and mini sessions that provided a brief explanation of a best practice in youth gardening and sustainable agriculture
The goal of all these professional development sessions was to inspire school garden educators to view their garden as an integrated system that not only grows food in ways that responsibly manage soil, water and air, but also support the academic achievement, social emotional growth, and perhaps future career choices of K-12 learners.
Minnesota School Garden Conference participants also enjoyed a delicious lunch and networking time as well as exploring the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum and its spring flower show exhibits. Minnesota NRCS (Natural Resource Conservation Service) staff members made their Soil Tunnel available for conference attendees to learn more about Minnesota’s soils that provide the foundation for school garden growing activities.
The conference concluded by announcing the “vegetable of the year” that will be featured in the second annual Minnesota School Garden Week May 18-22. Attendees at the 2026 MN School Garden Conference voted on this vegetable. In a close contest, squash prevailed as the winner! The first 100 schools and early care centers that register for Minnesota School Garden week, will receive a seed packet of delicata squash.
In the post conference survey, attendees provided feedback that they plan to actively use, share and implement what they learned at the 2026 Minnesota School Garden Conference. Their intended actions fall into three categories: 1. Applying learning in their own work, 2. Sharing information with others, 3. Collaborating and Expanding Impact.
We are excited to see school gardens in action this spring!
