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We are so close to announcing something pretty major that we have been working on over the last couple of months! To give you a few hints-this project is rooted in creating a convenient, easy, organic and a 'one-click' SEL service for teachers, families and educators. Stay tuned to our 'Weeds to Seeds' Newsletter and social media @youareagardener for the more details! Not on our list? Email us at flowers@youareagardener.com Now more than ever children need the support and tools to help them navigate stress and big emotions. Our children's book, SEL Programs and #PullYourWeeds® Blog are here as a resource to use at your convenience. If you would like create a custom SEL program for your school, family or group, please email us at flowers@youareagardener.com

By incorporating the You Are a Gardener® mindset in your classroom on a daily/ weekly basis is where the real benefits of the program take root! Today we are sharing one of our favorite 'gardening tools' to use in the classroom. Choosing a 'Gardener of the Week' is a wonderful way to make each child in your class feel extra-special. Gardeners of all ages love being recognized & appreciated by their peers. This is a wonderful social and emotional exercise that helps build self-confidence, encourages inclusivity and celebrates individuality! Scroll down for tips to infuse this into your weekly routine and download a free printable for your 'Gardener of the Week'! Gardener Of The Week: -Have your Gardener of the Week (GOTW) fill out this worksheet & present it to the class at the beginning of their week. Then hang this sheet on a bulletin board for the entire week -Have each student write something positive about the GOTW, read it out loud to the class and put it on the bulletin board with the GOTW sheet. (Try writing them on our origami tulips-Learn how by clicking here) -Have your GOTW bring something special in from home and have them present it in front of the class. -Have your GOTW bring in their favorite book to read with the class. << CLICK ON THE PHOTO TO DOWNLOAD THIS FREE PRINTABLE FOR THE GARDENER OF THE WEEK OR CLICK HERE! >> Did you use this 'gardening tool' in your classroom? We would love to hear your feedback! Send us an email to: flowers@youareagardener.com

Today is Tuesday 2/22/22 and today we experience the only sextuple number code date we will ever see in our lifetime! Here are some ways you can celebrate this remarkable day: Write down 2️⃣2️⃣ things you love about yourself. Take 2️⃣2️⃣ deep breaths. Take a 2️⃣2️⃣ minute walk. Spend 2️⃣2️⃣ minutes on a vision board. Journal for 2️⃣2️⃣ minutes. Write down 2️⃣2️⃣ of your goals and dreams. Give someone you love 2️⃣2️⃣ hugs. Happy 2’s Day Gardeners! 2️⃣2️⃣2️⃣2️⃣2️⃣ 🦊 🎉

Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is the process in which 'gardeners' of all ages cultivate skills/tools to effectively identify, communicate and manage emotions to find a peaceful and positive path forward. This integral part of human development empowers one with responsible decision making, empathy awareness, strong communication skills, self-compassion, self-confidence, inclusivity and so much more. In times of stress and uncertainty a gardener can never have enough SEL skills/tools (aka gardening tools). As SEL Advocates we recognize that positive, uplifting and empowering content for kids is needed now more than ever...especially after the last 2 years! Our #PullYourWeeds® Workshops are a wonderful way to brighten up your classroom and home. All of our workshops can be done in-person or online and are customizable to fit your needs and convenience. According to research a consistent approach to SEL at home and in the classroom cultivates the following: academic success, fewer behavioral problems, positive social relationships, stronger problem solving skills and overall feeling of self-confidence. The lifetime benefits of SEL are immeasurable. The You Are a Gardener® Platform & Our SEL Programs Are Rooted In: ✔︎Children embracing & understanding that they have the power to control the way they feel. ✔︎Empowering children with growth mindset tools and mindfulness activities. ✔︎Self-empowerment, self-compassion and confidence building. ✔︎Keeping the lines of communication open between children and trusted sources. ✔︎Strengthening and building positive conflict/resolution skills. ✔︎Encouraging empathy and responsible decision making. The beautiful thing about 'gardening' and our SEL programs, is that anybody, anywhere, can start at anytime! Increasing our ability and awareness to 'grow through' life's challenges with a positive disposition is at the very root of the You Are a Gardener® mindset. The You Are a Gardener® platform and our #PullYourWeeds® SEL programs for schools and for home make educating and empowering children with strong SEL roots easy, organic and fun! The more 'gardening tools' children have in their 'emotional toolbox' the more prepared they will be when they encounter uncomfortable feelings and big emotions. NOW IS THE TIME TO START PLANTING YOUR SEL SEEDS FOR SPRING- FOR YOUR SCHOOL OR FAMILY- BOOK A DEMO TODAY! Get on our schedule today by sending us an email to flowers@youareagardener.com

We thought we would kick this weekend off with a fox-themed craft! With minimal materials this delightful project is excellent for gardeners of all ages to work on those fine motor skills and craft with confidence. Arts & crafts are a playful way to help children cultivate their social and emotional skills! *Gardener Tip: If you are a teacher and are looking for some Spring bulletin board inspiration...these friendly little foxes would look adorable in the halls of your school! Scroll down for step-by step instructions for our Paper Plate Foxes Craft! Materials Needed: A paper plate Orange, black, and pink construction paper (OR orange, black, and pink coloring utensils) Glue Scissors -First, fold in both sides of the plate to make a triangle. Next, take a piece of your orange construction paper and cut out a triangle with a rounded base that fits on the rounded part of your plate. Cut out two small triangles for the ears of our fox! -Take a minute to make sure everything is glued down - the big orange triangle, the flaps of our paper plate, and the orange ears. Now take your black paper and cut out a circle for the nose and two smaller circles for the eyes. Cut out slightly smaller triangles with your pink paper to place on top of your orange ears. Then glue everything in place! -Then you are left with a perfect Foxie! Feel free to collect some flower petals and leaves to make Foxie a flower crown. This is the perfect activity for younger gardeners to practice some fine motor skills and if you choose to make the flower crown - it gets everyone outside! As always, please send us photos of how YOU made this craft, we love seeing them! We also want to hear which of our crafts on the #PullYourWeeds® Blog are your favorites, so let us know @youareagardener or at flowers@youareagardener.com.

I was recently gifted a 'Little Book of Big Thoughts' from my loving in-laws. Each day features a short, sweet and inspiring message. I came across one last month that I instantly adapted as my mini mantra for 2022 and today I want to share it with you! "If it is to be, it is up to me." (scroll down for a free inspirational PDF to use at home or in the classroom) When I present my #PullYourWeeds® Workshops to children, I always include a mini entrepreneurial message that we are all born with beautiful gifts that will make our world a brighter place. And, as gardeners it is important we pay attention to those things that bring us joy and make us feel complete. These gifts need room to grow bright and strong. So any time you want to make a difference, see something that needs to be changed, or want to make a major impact-these ten, tiny, two letter words can be HUGELY powerful...if it is to be, it is up to me. Plant those seeds, you are a gardener! (stay tuned to @youareagardener on Instagram for a daily dose of these messages) CLICK ON THE IMAGE FOR OUR FREE PDF INSPIRATIONAL POSTER TO HANG AT HOME OR IN THE CLASSROOM Did you download this image and hang it up in your room or in your classroom? If so, send us your photos to flowers@youareagardener.com!

Today we are throwing it back to 2020 when Gardener Aidan taught us how to make our own journal or notebook on Session 3 of Camp Hello Gardeners®! All you need is construction paper, copy paper, scissors and a rubber band. Journaling is one of our favorite 'gardening tools' for our emotional toolkit*, as it helps us be present minded, connect with our feelings and express what we are 'growing through' at that particular moment. By writing our thoughts down on a frequent basis, it helps build confidence when it comes to expressing our feelings and thoughts and is extremely beneficial for our social and emotional development! Having our own journal provides a safe space for us to write about our thoughts and experiences and the perfect place to #PullYourWeeds! SCROLL DOWN TO WATCH GARDENER AIDAN;S STEP-BY-STEP VIDEO FROM A 2020 EPISODE OF CAMP HELLO GARDENERS® We love journaling at home and in the classroom...it is a wonderful SEL exercise! *Have you ever heard the expression emotional toolkit? These are the tools we use throughout our lives to help us manage stress and keep our emotions in check. As gardeners we needs lots of 'gardening tools' to keep our emotions rooted in a calm and confident state. At You Are a Gardener® we are always looking for new skills to help us communicate, re-focus and stay on a positive path. And we are always wanting to share these tools/skills with our community! Hey Gardeners... Did you make Gardener Aidan's DIY Journal? If so, then you just earned yourself the DIY Journal Gardening Tool Badge!!!! What are some of your favorite 'gardening tools' to use when you need to unwind and de-stress? Send us an email to flowers@youareagardener.com!

According to elementary school counselors & teachers there are some common concerns for the social and emotional impact that is occurring in the classroom due to COVID. Now is the time to empower children with skills/tools to help them mange their stress and uncomfortable feelings. Our #PullYourWeeds® SEL Workshops & Assemblies for grades K-8 are a gentle, helpful and empowering approach to enriching the social and emotional values in your school. Our #PullYourWeeds® SEL Programs are a beautiful gift to give your school that will blossom with each & every student! Our workshops/assemblies can be performed in-person, virtually or via a set of pre-recorded videos for your school to use at your convenience. Email us to set up a demo to flowers@youareagardener.com . To learn more about our SEL workshops & assemblies Click Here!

Spring will be here before you know it! Our #PullYourWeeds® SEL Programs are a beautiful gift to give your school that will blossom with each & every student! Our workshops/assemblies can be performed in-person, virtually or via a set of pre-recoded videos. To learn more about our SEL workshops & assemblies Click Here! We would love to give you a 5 minute demo of our #PullYourWeeds® SEL Programs for children ages 4-12. Schedule one today by emailing us at flowers@youareagardener.com.

Nothing says Fall in New Jersey like a crisp, autumn day apple picking at a your local farm and enjoying some tasty cider donuts. Lately, we have noticed that as sweet and delicious as those donuts are, they always seem to get stale by the time you reach for them again. That's why today on the #PullYourWeeds Blog we are featuring a fun, kid-friendly recipe to re-purpose cider donuts into a delightful french toast. Scroll down and read more about the social and emotional learning benefits of cooking with your kids! Scroll down for our very own Apple Cider Doughnut French Toast Recipe #PullYourWeeds Cider Doughnut French Toast Ingredients: ✔ 4-6 Stale Cider Donuts ✔ 1 Cup of Milk ✔ 1 Egg ✔ 1 Tsp of Vanilla ✔ 2-3 Dashes of Cinnamon ✔ 1 Dash of Nutmeg ✔ 1 Glug of Maple Syrup Slice your donuts in half. Mix the ingredients together in a bowl. Gently dip your donuts in the egg batter, coating both sides. Cook in a buttered frying pan on each side until golden brown and enjoy! Stale cider donuts make for a great base for french toast as they hold up well in the egg mixture (but don't let them soak too long). The SEL Benefits of Cooking With Kids: ✔ Teaches life skills. ✔ Develops fine motor and hand eye coordination. ✔ It encourages patience and focus. ✔ Builds confidence. ✔ Fun for the whole family. ✔ Creates concepts of math and science. ✔ Kids love activities where they can use all of their senses! If you are looking for a farm getaway with your family we love Wightman's Farm in Morristown, NJ. Click Here to learn more about this incredible family owned and operated local Jersey Fresh Farm.

Welcome to the Pull Your Weeds™ blog! This blog is a place where we can turn #WeedsToSeeds, show gratitude for flowers, and help spread the word about the importance of pulling weeds. Sometimes we might share a seasonal craft or fun activity, maybe identify a gardener’s weed and come up with solutions to turn it into a seed, or look back on a visit where we spread some seeds to fellow gardeners! You might be wondering why it’s important to #PullYourWeeds? Let’s think about this in terms of our garden - weeds make it difficult for flowers and plants to grow. In other words, it’s hard to feel happy if something is making you angry or scared at the same time. And if we don’t pull those weeds, they just keep growing and spreading making it harder to feel happy! So, when weeds pop up, like our friends #GardenerAnna and #GardenerAidan say, we need to “pull ‘em out!” Let’s start off this week with a fun winter craft. We are going to spread some seeds to our feathered friends out in this chilly weather by making some bird feeders! You will need: A piece of wire or a pipe cleaner Cheerios 1. First, grab your wire and start stringing on the Cheerios (you might want to make a loop at the end so they don’t fall off!). 2. Then, bring the two ends of wire together and twist them into a loop. 3. Next, bend the wire into any shape you’d like! Gardener Anna chose a heart, and Gardener Aidan chose a zig zag. 4. Hang you feeder on a branch - you can bend the wire a bit to secure it to the tree if needed. 5. The only thing left to do is wait and watch for the birds! Feel free to watch our tutorial below, starting at about 2 minutes! If you haven’t already, go watch Season 1 of Hello Gardeners! You can meet Gardener Anna and Gardener Aidan, learn more about the book You Are A Gardener™, and see fellow gardeners turning weeds into seeds! Have fun and remember the future is BRIGHT!