The #PullYourWeeds® Blog

...rooted in empowering young kids with skills and tools to help their

gardens to grow healthy & strong.

Featuring: Crafts, Kid-Friendly Recipes, Mindfulness Activities, Inspirational Stories & More!

Feb 19

Drizzled Sheet Pan Sprouts

Let’s face it...as cute as they are, Brussel sprouts don't always get an adoring response from kids! That's why today on the #PullYourWeeds Blog we are sharing a kid-approved, sheet pan sprout recipe. The secret to this tasty, easy side dish is tahini which is the main ingredient in hummus. The added bonus to this recipe is Brussel sprouts are loaded in fiber, vitamin k and vitamin c which is wonderful for the immune system and tahini is packed with healthy fats, vitamin b

Feb 17

Now Booking Virtual Assemblies

Shanna Truffini, author of You Are a Gardener® along with her Illustrator Kelsey Jordan, are now performing virtual assemblies for the #PullYourWeeds® Program in elementary schools nationwide. This live virtual, 45 minute program is rooted in social emotional learning (SEL) skills, growth mindset tools, self-empowerment, confidence building, conflict resolution skills and mindfulness activities. Live Assembly Breakdown: -Book reading of You Are a Gardener® by the author -

Feb 11

Pretty In Pink 💕

Today we are giving our classic hot cocoa a makeover with a pretty pink twist! The sweet thing about this recipe is you only need a few ingredients, it is super easy to make and kids of all ages love it! Scroll down to Get The Recipe! Pretty in Pink Hot Cocoa ❅ 4 Cups of Milk ❅ 1 1/2 Cups of White Chocolate Chips ❅ 1 1/2 Tsp of Vanilla ❅ 2-3 Drops of Red Food Coloring Or Beet Juice Combine milk and chips in a sauce pan over low to medium heat and stir frequently until the ch

Feb 4

Grant Approved!

We are so grateful for our very special gardener friend Kim, (aka Ms. T. to her 4th grade students) in the Denville, NJ public schools district. She had recently applied for a grant to bring our #PullYourWeeds® program to the 4th graders! We received the exciting news last night that the grant was approved! Starting next month we will meet with each class virtually from now until the end of the school year for a 35-45 minute social and emotional learning (SEL) workshop all

Feb 4

5 Ways To Start Gardening Today

Are you ready to introduce the You Are a Gardener® vocabulary and mindset into your home or classroom? Check out our 5 Easy Ways you and your kids can start gardening today! #1-Get The Book The You Are a Gardener® children's book is a wonderful way to introduce the 'gardening' vocabulary and mindset into your home, group or classroom. The book features beautiful illustrations done with watercolors on paper. The fox, aka Foxie seen throughout the book and all our branding w

Jan 26

Now Booking!

Hey teachers, educators and homeschool families...are you looking to add some bright and positive content to your classroom or home? Shanna Truffini is now booking virtual workshops for kids in grades K-5! ✿The program includes: a reading of her book You Are a Gardener®️, an interactive discussion about the meaning of the book, a mindfulness exercise and/or a craft. ✿The virtual session runs about 35-40 minutes and can be customized upon requests and needs of the students

Jan 25

Plant Your Dreams 🌱

Just as a garden starts with one seed, so does a dream. Encouraging young gardeners to nurture their dreams and follow their passions helps them to build confidence and character. So today on the #PullYourWeeds® Blog we've got some tips to help gardeners Plant Their Dreams! The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. ~Elanor Roosevelt -SCROLL DOWN FOR TIPS TO HELP A GARDENER PLANT THEIR DREAMS- Tips To Plant Your Dreams Find Your Seed-Identify wha

Jan 24

One Sheet Wonders

Dishes be gone! Simple, satisfying and super easy to clean, the sheet pan cooking craze is one food trend we are definitely getting behind. We find these meals are a 'close cousin' to the crock pot with minimal ingredients that yield tasty results. Today we are sharing our absolute favorite recipe yet-Baked Feta & Broccolini! There is something for everyone on this sheet pan to enjoy and it serves well over pasta, orzo, farro, with a fresh loaf of bread or as a side dish! S

Jan 12

Staying Social

Hello Gardeners! As we settle into the rest of winter, we can feel the pull towards hibernation and inactivity and with some stay at home restrictions still in place, it may feel like a long road ahead. We focus a lot of energy on the #PullYourWeeds Blog about social and emotional learning. So, how do we continue to help our kids develop these skills if their time in the classroom is restricted to a screen and/or less time face-to-face? We can start with finding ways for o

Jan 11

What's Crockin'

Our family loves to try out tasty slow cooker recipes recommended by family and friends! These self-serving dishes are fun to get the whole family involved as they are easy to prepare and serve... just grab a spoon and dig in (be sure to use a potholder when lifting the lid). There are so many benefits to embracing a set-it-and-forget-it attitude when it comes to winter meals. Ready To Go ✔︎ By the time your family gets hungry, your slow cooker meal will be ready to go! Les

Jan 11

5,4,3,2,1

We talk a lot about mindfulness on our platform, and in short the definition of mindfulness is living in the present moment. When a gardener practices this process, it helps him/her to focus more on their flowers instead of their weeds. When you are living in the moment and focusing on being present, you can not anticipate about things that will happen in the future or ponder over what has happened in the past. To put it simply the more a gardener practices mindfulness the

Jan 6

How does your garden grow?

Let's face it, our kids are stressed. On a daily basis, children encounter multiple uncomfortable feelings, thoughts and emotions (aka weeds). From feeling overwhelmed with school work, being afraid of the dark, feeling left out with their friends, hearing a story on the news that scares them, to worrying about their loved ones dying...the list goes on. Just like real weeds in a garden, when you don't pay attention to them, things can get out of control and fast. This emoji

Dec 29, 2020

Time To Celebrate 🎉

We are so grateful for all the opportunities we were presented with this year that inspired us to grow our programs and connect with gardener friends from all across the country! From in-school programs in early 2020 to creating Camp Hello Gardeners®, virtual book readings, creating new crafts, recipes & tools for our #PullYourWeeds blog, Zoom interviews and growing stronger roots for all of our programs. We can't wait to see where it all 'grows' in 2021! Here are some of our

Dec 17, 2020

You've Got Weeds 📫

Last Monday, Aidan asked for a shoe box and wrapping paper for a project he was working on for our family. Moments later he returned with a "Family Pull Your Weeds Box". Aidan's inspiration to create this box was rooted in wanting to discuss a few of his own 'weeds' with our family. As the week went by, we all found ourselves dropping a note in the box and on Sunday night after dinner we had a family 'pull your weeds' session. This was such a wonderful exercise for all of u

Dec 17, 2020

Minty Kiss Cookies

As you may know, #GardenerAnna describes baking as one of the brightest 'flowers' in her garden. Cooking, baking and creating in the kitchen is a wonderful way to keep kids focused, active and it's also an excellent confidence builder! This time of year our family loves to play around with classic cookie recipes and give them a fun and current twist. Kiss cookies have always been a kid-friendly favorite so today on the #PullYourWeeds we are making Minty Kiss cookies. We did

Dec 10, 2020

Homemade Hot Cocoa 🍫

When the first snowflake falls so does the longing for cozying into a cup of hot chocolate. There is something so nostalgic about holding that warm mug of creamy, sweet goodness in your hands after playing outside in the snow. When made from scratch, drinking hot cocoa can be beneficial to your health. According to treehugger.com there are several benefits to drinking a cup of Hot Cocoa: The flavonoids in hot chocolate help your body process nitric oxide, which is why hot

Nov 30, 2020

The Seeds That Sprouted🌱

Since You Are a Gardener® was published in December of 2017, Shanna Truffini has developed several new social and emotional (SEL) programs to help empower children with tools and skills to help their gardens grow healthy and strong. 1. Hello Gardeners® 📽 One of the first programs to sprout was the video series, Hello Gardeners®. This idea came from Shanna Truffini's daughter, Anna when she was only 8 years old. She had the idea to create a show where every episode Anna and

Nov 30, 2020

Berry Breakfast Bowl 🍓

Getting kids to eat first thing in the morning before school can sometimes be a challenge. We are always on the hunt to find easy breakfast ideas that are tasty, healthy and FAST! As breakfast is the most important meal of the day, it's important to establish healthy eating habits for children at a young age. Making smart breakfast choices and emphasizing the importance of refueling their bodies can help start kids on the right track for a healthy lifestyle. According to k

Nov 30, 2020

Free #PullYourWeeds® Pencils ✏️

Now through Sunday 12/6 enjoy 10% off a copy of You Are a Gardener® plus get 5 free, custom #PullYourWeeds pencils with your purchase. Enter code ONPOINT10 at checkout. Shanna Truffini’s children’s book You Are a Gardener™ uses gardening vocabulary to help kids identify strong emotions and turn them into empowering and positive solutions. The book is recommended for children ages 4-12 but the message is truly ageless. The beautiful illustrations in the book are timeless

Nov 26, 2020

Managing Stress Through the Holiday Season

Hello Gardeners! As joyful as this time of year is, it can also be a little overwhelming. With shopping, planning, decorating and keeping things festive... staying on the brighter side of things can sometimes be a challenge. Today we are dedicating our #PullYourWeeds post to stress-reducing, nerve-busting tips to help you get the most cheer out of this holiday season! # 1 L E T G O O F E X P E C T A T I O N S Holiday planning can be a lot of extra work. Looking ahead an

The #PullYourWeeds® Blog was created by Shanna Truffini for the You Are a Gardener platform as a resource for families, teachers, educators and therapists to access tools, activities, crafts and inspirational messages all rooted in the foundation of helping young kids manage their emotions. The You Are a Gardener® programs are rooted in spreading the seeds of social and emotional learning skills (SEL) for kids to be able to positively identify, communicate and manage their emotions. You Are a Gardener™ and the #PullYourWeeds® Blog uses gardening vocabulary as emotional metaphors to help children talk about and respond to what they are feeling. The Pull Your Weeds® Blog help kids manage stress with productive and positive conflict/resolution skills and mindfulness practices.

You Are a Gardener® is not responsible for any and all claims, injuries, damages, losses or suits including attorney fees, arising out of or resulting from the acts, errors, misuse or omissions while participating in any of our programs and activities including the #PullYourWeeds Blog, Hello Gardeners®, Camp Hello Gardeners and educational services.

For more information, to be featured as a guest gardener or to book a #PullYourWeeds Workshop

please email flowers@youareagardener.com

The #PullYourWeeds® Blog

...rooted in empowering young kids with skills and tools to help their

gardens to grow healthy & strong.

Featuring: Crafts, Kid-Friendly Recipes, Mindfulness Activities, Inspirational Stories & More!

​

For more information, to be featured as a guest gardener or to book a #PullYourWeeds Workshop

please email flowers@youareagardener.com