A few days after our #PullYourWeeds® Assembly at the Riverview School in Denville, NJ, their school's Librarian, Rachel Jamison hosted a Gratitude Garden Book Walk for the families of the students. This remarkable experience took place in the school's garden (the students planted all the tulips) and was an opportunity to highlight all the SEL seeds sprouting at their school. The walk opened up with the beautiful mural Ms. Jamison and the students created and when you turned the corner, the rainbow of tulips were a beautiful host to the pages of You Are a Gardener® lining the path. As you literally walked through our book, the path opened up to a Garden of 'Gardening Tool Stations' for the students and families. From fox origami to You Are a Gardener activity sheets, our signature flower fortune tellers to #PullYourWeeds® coloring sheets, there was a 'gardening tool' for gardeners of all ages to enjoy! Ms. Jamison even created a gigantic You Are a Gardener® Certificate of Accomplishment for all the students to sign. Again this is such a beautiful example of how connected the Riverview community is. To see children, families and teachers all coming together with our book and programs as the highlight was truly a dream come true...it felt like 'walking on sunshine'. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this event. We are extremely grateful to have been a part of your celebration. PRESS PLAY TO WALK THROUGH THE GRATITUDE GARDEN BOOK WALK CREATED BY THE EXTREMELY CREATIVE & TALENTED RACHEL JAMISON, RIVERVIEW'S SCHOOL LIBRARIAN The school's Librarian, Ms. Jamison & the students created this beautiful Gardener Mural. She had all the students in the school sign the flowers, which also represents their incredibly strong sense of community and connectedness! Thank you Riverview Rockets...you are gardeners!

Say that three times fast! For the last few years we have been making our signature origami tulips with our gardener friends at school events, book signings and even featured them in our very first episode of Hello Gardeners®! Needless to say we LOVE origami. There is something so exciting about turning a square piece of paper into a physical object that you can display or play with. Plus, the colorful stack of paper is like candy to your eyes. The social and emotional benefits of origami for kids (and adults) is so wonderful for your mental health. Scroll down to read why origami is beneficial for our social and emotional health.. and scroll all the way down to download your Gardening Tool Badge for this activity! Benefits of Origami For Kids: ❒ Develops fine motor skills, hand eye coordination and mental focus. ❒ Emotional satisfaction and gratification with the finished product. ❒ Improves spatial visualization skills and encourages hands-on learning. ❒ Valuable for brain and mind as it often requires both hands working together. ❒ It's fun for kids and adults of all ages! Today on the #PullYourWeeds® Blog we are going above the fold and making some adorable origami foxes in honor of our You Are a Gardener mascot, Foxie. We chose two different easy styles that use kid friendly folding and tons of fun! (Tip: If you don’t have origami paper just cut a piece of paper into a perfect square, post-it notes work too for mini origami.) SCROLL DOWN FOR MORE AND TO WATCH OUR ORIGAMI EPISODE OF HELLO GARDENERS® We hope you had fun with your folding! Send us photos of your origami foxes to flowers@youareagardener.com! Hey gardeners, did you make origami foxes? If so, congratulations, you just earned yourself the 'Origami foxes' Gardening Tool Badge'! --> Click the badge to download a pdf sticker for your Gardening Tool Badge Collector Sheet. Now...enjoy watching our very first episode of Hello Gardeners® where Gardener Anna and Gardener Aidan make their first appearance in the greenhouse and show us how to make origami tulips!

Hey gardeners did you know that smiling for just 30 seconds can induce feelings of happiness? Studies have shown that when you use the muscles in your face to smile it triggers familiar pathways in your brain that is associated when you are happy and makes your brain think you are in a joyful state (even if you're not). This means that smiling can be a powerful Gardening Tool that can help you quickly get out of the weeds (negative feelings) and back to appreciating your flowers (good feelings). We encourage you to pick 2-3 times a day to stop and smile even if you have nothing to smile about. So what do you say gardeners...Ready-Set-SMILE! Scroll down to read more about the physical, social and emotional benefits to smiling. And scroll all the way down to collect your Gardening Tool Badge for this exercise! Ready-Set-Smile Has Gardener Roots In: 😃 Like a yawn, a smile can be contagious...pass it on. 😃 It is an instant mood booster. 😃 It can lower your stress. 😃 You can do it anytime, anywhere. 😃 It can boost your immune system. 😃 A fun exercise to do at home or in the classroom. 😃 No material required. Hey gardeners, did you just smile? If so, congratulations, you just earned yourself the 'Ready-Set-Smile' Gardening Tool Badge'! --> Click the badge to download a pdf sticker for your Gardening Tool Badge Collector Sheet. We would love to see pictures of your beautiful smile...email us at flowers@youareagardener.com You Are a Gardener® and the #PullYourWeeds® Blog are rooted in empowering children, teachers and families with a variety of 'gardening tools' to help manage stress/big emotions and encouraging gardeners to feel confident & calm. Most featured exercises and activities can be done in school and at home and are appropriate for gardeners of all ages. To earn more Gardening Tool Badges & download your FREE Collectors Sheet...Click Here!

Game on gardeners! Today we are mixing things up with a fun twist on the game Scrabble. Instead of playing by the rules, try turning all the tiles face up and create as many gardener words as you can. This is a fun activity to do at home or in school, as a group or on your own. Note: You do not need an actual game board for this activity. Some Fun Gardener Words To Use On Your Board: Gardener, Flowers, Weeds, Seeds, Helpful, Hopeful, Love, Kindness, Calm, Garden, Hope, Growth, Fox, Foxie, Confident, Kind, Joyful, Roots, Plant, Grow, Dig, Grateful, Gardening, Tools, Badges... Scroll down to read why this game is beneficial for our social and emotional health.. and scroll all the way down to download your Gardening Tool Badge for this activity! Gardener Scrabble Has Gardener Roots In: 🔠 Helps the brain see things differently. 🔠 Improves cognitive thinking & memory. 🔠 Helps you to focus on present moment (& not your weeds). 🔠 Can be done in school or at home. 🔠 Fun as a group or independent activity. 🔠 Helps kids improve spelling & learn new words. 🔠 A screen free activity! 🔠 Encourages problem solving skills. 🔠 Boosts self-confidence. Fun Fact: Gardener Aidan LOVES to play board games. They help him relax and stay focused on the present moment. Playing games is a fun way to help you take your mind off your weeds! Hey gardeners, did you play a round of Gardener Scrabble? If so, congratulations, you just earned yourself the 'Gardener Scrabble' Gardening Tool Badge'! --> Click the badge to download a pdf sticker for your Gardening Tool Badge Collector Sheet. We would love to see pictures of your Gardener Scrabble Game...email us at flowers@youareagardener.com You Are a Gardener® and the #PullYourWeeds® Blog are rooted in empowering children, teachers and families with a variety of 'gardening tools' to help manage stress/big emotions and encouraging gardeners to feel confident & calm. Most featured exercises and activities can be done in school and at home and are appropriate for gardeners of all ages. To earn more Gardening Tool Badges & download your FREE Collectors Sheet...Click Here!

Deep breathing exercises are definitely some of our favorite, 'go-to' gardening tools! Today on the #PullYourWeeds® Blog we are sharing a sweet and fun Bunny Breathing technique that is great for gardeners of all ages! Hop to it and get ready to relax, unwind and reduce your stress! Bunny Breathing Exercise 1. Stand up straight with your head held high. 2. Take 3 deep sniffs in through your nose. 3. Now count to 3 and exhale real slow. 4. Repeat 3-5 times until you feel calm & relaxed. Breathing exercises can be very helpful at school before or after a test, after recess, after a stressful encounter or before you start the day. Breathing exercises can be very helpful at home after a disagreement, before bed, after a meal, before doing homework, when you are stuck in the weeds. DOWNLOAD A FREE PRINTABLE OF OUR BUNNY BREATHING EXERCISE FOR YOUR CLASS OR FAMILY-CLICK THE PHOTO ABOVE! One of the most powerful 'gardening tools' we can use is deep breathing. By taking deep breaths you can lower your heart rate, decrease your stress and increase your calm. The beautiful thing about this particular stress-relieving tool, is that you can do it anywhere at anytime. Bunny Breathing Has Gardener Roots In: 💨It helps to enable more air to flow into your body and reduce stress. 💨It helps to improve your attention span. 💨Helps redirect your thoughts from negative (weeds) to a positive. 💨Lowers you heart rate and helps calm you down. 💨Draws your attention back to the present moment. 💨Do at home or in school. Hey gardeners, did you do Bunny Breathing Exercise? If so, congratulations, you just earned yourself the 'Bunny Breathing' Gardening Tool Badge'! --> Click the badge to download a pdf sticker for your Gardening Tool Badge Collector Sheet How many gardening tool badges have you earned so far? Send us an email to flowers@youareagardener.com

NJ to ATL...This past week the gardeners hit the road and drove to Atlanta to celebrate our very special 'framily' members Charlotte & Alex at their wedding. There were so many highlights to this incredible adventure from experiencing the rich culture of a new city, meeting new friends, being the officiant at the ceremony (my first time-what an honor), to celebrating the love of two extraordinary individuals. The social, emotional and physical health benefits of taking a family trip are extremely nourishing and so good for the soul. If you have been debating on booking that trip or just getting away for the weekend, give yourself the permission to unwind. Disconnecting from your daily life of tasks and chores can help you feel healthier, calmer and happier. Bon voyage! If you are looking to travel to Atlanta with your family here are some of our recommendations based on our adventures: Where to Stay: Marriott Midtown Hotel Clermont What to See: Ponce City Market Atlanta Aquarium Botanical Gardens Fox Theater Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site What to Eat: Grind House Killer Burgers Tiny Lou's Pancake Social Milk & Honey Ponce City Market

Whatever programs your school is in search for, our #PullYourWeeds® Programs have you covered. Empowering children, teachers and families with a shared emotional language is needed now more than ever. Our student, teacher and family programs are a bright and helpful approach to building a brighter future TOGETHER! ⭐️ Student Assemblies ⭐️ SEL Curriculum for Teachers ⭐️ Family Workshops ⭐️ Speaking Engagements ⭐️ Author Visits --> To book a demo, get pricing estimates or schedule a call to learn more about the many benefits of our programs-email us at flowers@youareagardener.com

Hello gardeners! Today we are sharing an outdoor activity to encourage gardeners of all ages to to get outside and explore nature. A scavenger hunt is a fun way to collect items found in nature in your own backyard. Grab an egg carton and color in each hole with a different shade and head outside and find things that match your colors. There is something so satisfying about creating your own nature collection, and recycling an egg carton is a fun way to keep your treasures organized. No egg carton? No problem, scroll down for a free Spring Scavenger Hunt printable. Scroll all the way down to collect your Gardening Tool Badge for this activity! Our Spring Scavenger Hunt Has Gardener Roots In: 🌼 Gives observation skills a boost. 🌼 A screen free activity the whole family can enjoy. 🌼Allows kids to practice problem-solving in a tangible way. 🌼Fresh air, vitamin D and being outside are known to reduce stress & improve your mood. 🌼This activity is a healthy way to keep the mind & body busy. 🌼This activity can be done at school or at home. CLICK THE IMAGE BELOW TO DOWNLOAD A FREE SCAVENGER HUNT PRINTABLE *If you don't have an egg carton you can print out our free Scavenger Hunt Activity Sheet to use a guide to look for items in nature in the same colors and shades! Hey gardeners, did you do a Spring Scavenger Hunt? If so, congratulations, you just earned yourself the 'Spring Scavenger Hunt Gardening Tool Badge'! --> Click the badge to download a pdf sticker for your Gardening Tool Badge Collector Sheet How many gardening tool badges have you earned so far? Send us an email to flowers@youareagardener.com You Are a Gardener® and the #PullYourweeds® Blog are rooted in empowering kids with a shared emotional language to use at home and in school through the use of our book, blog, videos, school programs, teacher services and more! Let's dig into raising a new generation of emotionally empowered kids!

Gardener Aidan loves drawing and sketching as a gardening tool for when he needs to de-stress and relax. This simple, yet powerful 'gardening tool' is a great way to draw your attention back to the present moment and distract you from any weeds, aka negative thoughts you might have. The sense of joy this mindfulness activity brings to gardeners of all age is extremely rewarding especially when the task is complete and we can see what we have accomplished! Scroll down and dig into today's new gardening tool and as a bonus do a gided drawing with our Illustrator, Gardener Kelsey ! Scroll all the way down to download your Gardening Tool Badge for this activity! Looking to earn more 'gardening tool' badges? Click Here to Start Collecting Today! <> Grab a piece of paper and something to draw with because today our Illustrator, Kelsey Jordan is going to teach you how to draw this adorable character step-by-step. Hey gardeners, did you do a little drawing and sketching? If so, congratulations, you just earned yourself the 'Drawing & Sketching Gardening Tool Badge'! --> Click the badge to download a pdf sticker for your Gardening Tool Badge Collector Sheet How many gardening tool badges have you earned so far? Send us an email to flowers@youareagardener.com You Are a Gardener® and the #PullYourweeds® Blog are rooted in empowering kids with a shared emotional language to use at home and in school through the use of our book, blog, videos, school programs, teacher services and more! Dig into raising a new generation of emotionally empowered kids!

PRESS PLAY TO LEARN HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN FELT BANNER WITH GARDENER KELSEY Hey gardeners, pulling weeds and planting seeds is always worthy of a celebration, that's why today we are making Pull Your Weeds Pennants! We love these little #DIY felt banners as decorations in your classroom or bedroom. They are simple to make and require minimal materials. The best part is, when you are making these adorable pennants and focusing on the activity itself, you can't be thinking about your weeds...which is why our Pull Your Weeds Pennants are also today's new gardening tool! Scroll down and dig into today's new gardening tool! Scroll all the way down to download your gardening tool badge for this activity! Making #PullYourWeeds® Pennants Have SEL Roots In: 🌼Helps kids express themselves in new ways 🌼Build on self-esteem and self-confidence 🌼Crafting helps develop fine motor skills 🌼Encouraging imagination 🌼Great way to make connections between feelings and creativity Gardeners of all ages love crafting and creating things with their hands. Felt is a fun material to work with because it's soft, easy to cut into shapes, inexpensive, and doesn't fray like wool or yarn. Materials Needed For DIY Felt Banner -Felts -Scissors -Glue -String -Hole Punch -Pencil Scroll down for step-by-step instructions... We would love to see your felt pennants! send us your photos for a chance to be featured in a Gardener Spotlight! Having our #PullYourWeeds® Pennant in a space that your kids are in often helps to remind them that they are supported emotionally and can help them feel safe and comfortable. Hey gardeners, did you make our Pull Your Weeds Pennant? If so, congratulations, you just earned yourself the 'Pull Your Weeds Pennant Gardening Tool Badge'! --> Click the badge to download a pdf sticker for your Gardening Tool Badge Collector Sheet How many gardening tool badges have you earned so far? Send us an email to flowers@youareagardener.com You Are a Gardener® and the #PullYourweeds® Blog are rooted in empowering kids with a shared emotional language to use at home and in school through the use of our book, blog, videos, school programs, teacher services and more! Dig into raising a new generation of emotionally empowered kids!

Today the gardeners are showing you how to make a fresh and fruity frozen yogurt berry bark from our video series Camp Hello Gardeners®. This is a great recipe to make with kids because it is very hands on, has super healthy ingredients and truly tastes amazing. We love this kid friendly frozen yogurt treat for breakfast, to serve at a party or for a low calorie late night snack! Scroll all the way down to download your Gardening Tool Badge to add to your Collectors Sheet. Press Play to Watch Now or Scroll Down For the Recipe! (Every episode of Camp Hello Gardeners® features an opportunity for kids to earn multiple gardening tool badges, scroll down to get your badge!) Click Here To Learn More About Gardening Tools Fruity Frozen Yogurt Berry Bark Recipe 3 Cups Fresh Berries Divided Evenly Into 2 Bowls 32 Ounces Greek Yogurt (we used vanilla) 2-3 Tbsp Jam or Preserves (we used strawberry) A Couple Handfuls of Shredded Coconut Mix yogurt and jam in a big bowl and gently fold in half of the berries. Next line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and pour yogurt mixture evenly on sheet. Next, use the remainder berries and coconut flakes to top. Put in the freezer for a couple of hours and enjoy! We recommend breaking it up and putting in an air tight container or plastic bag when it's ready. It should last for a good week or so. Some additional toppings that would be super yummy are: chopped nuts, mini chocolate chips, swap the berries for bananas, dried fruit, get creative and have fun! Cooking, baking and creating in the kitchen with kids is wonderful for their social and emotional development as it helps keep kids focused, engaged and it's also an excellent confidence builder! Raising a new generation of emotionally empowered kids is at the very root of all programs! Start planting these seeds with your children and students today! Hey gardeners, did you make our Fruity Frozen Yogurt Berry Bark? If so, congratulations, you just earned yourself the 'Fruity Frozen Yogurt Berry Bark Gardening Tool Badge'! --> Click the badge to download a pdf sticker for your Gardening Tool Badge Collector Sheet To learn more about our Camp Hello Gardener® video series - CLICK HERE!

Hey gardeners, do you want to learn how to grow your own microgreens at home or in your classroom? If so, then today's new 'gardening tool' will have you sprouting for joy! Growing your own microgreens is a wonderful activity that requires very minimal materials and yields an abundance of growth. PRESS PLAY TO LEARN HOW TO GROW YOUR OWN MICROGREENS IN JUST 7 DAYS! If you are looking for a fun way to introduce your kids to gardening then this is an easy and enjoyable way to start! The rapid growth of the sprouts makes it a fun way for gardeners of all ages experience the rewards of measured growth. Scroll down and dig in to this new gardening tool! Scroll all the way down to download your gardening tool badge for this activity! Materials Needed To Grow Your Own Microgreens -Sprouting Seeds -Paper Towels -Container (a lettuce container, takeout container, rotisserie chicken container) -Spray bottle for misting to keep sprouts moist Bonus: Microgreens are packed with nutritional value and taste delicious with eggs, on a sandwich, mixed in your salad, in your soup and more! GROWING MICROGREENS HAS SEL ROOTS IN: 🌱Helps develop fine motor skills 🌱Can be done at home and in school 🌱Observe the full plant life cycle up close 🌱Provides opportunities for kids to engage with their peers 🌱 Gardening can make you feel calm and relaxed 🌱Encourages a sense of pride and validation 🌱Boosts self-confidence Gardener Kelsey's Tips: -Don’t like broccoli? Try a salad mix, radish, alfalfa, beans, peas! All of them will taste/look slightly different :) -Microgreens should last about 10-12 days in the fridge but use your best judgment! If they start to get slimy and wilted (like lettuce) it's time to get rid of them. -South facing windows usually receive the longest window of light! Try those first when you are looking for a spot to keep your tray. -This method is purposefully done with as few items needed as possible. You can of course use a microgreens tray, heat mat or seed starting mix to grow these! But ANYONE can grow microgreens with an old plastic container and a few paper towels! Hey gardeners, did you grow your own microgreens? If so, congratulations, you just earned yourself the 'Microgreens Gardening Tool Badge'! --> Click the badge to download a pdf sticker for your Gardening Tool Badge Collector Sheet How many gardening tool badges have you earned so far? Send us an email to flowers@youareagardener.com You Are a Gardener® and the #PullYourweeds® Blog are rooted in empowering kids with a shared emotional language to use at home and in school through the use of our book, blog, videos, school programs, teacher services and more! Dig into raising a new generation of emotionally empowered kids!