If you have been following us along on our gardening journey, then you know that origami is up there with one of our favorite, go-to gardening tools. The social and emotional benefits of origami for kids (and adults) is so wonderful for your mental well-being. Benefits of Origami : ❒ 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. ❒ Origami is fun for kids and adults of all ages. ❒ It's helps to relax you and take your mind off your weeds! Today on the #PullYourweeds® Blog we are showing you how to make your own Fox Corner Bookmarks! Scroll down for step-by-step instructions for our 'Fox Marks the Spot Bookmarks'. --> All you need is a square piece of paper and a black marker or crayon. Start with a square piece of paper. Fold you paper diagonally in half to make a triangle. Fold in one corner to make a smaller triangle. Fold in the other corner. Open up to the larger triangle again. Fold a small triangle lip down the center with the front piece. Fold in one corner up and then down on an angle. Repeat for the other side. Carefully tuck back those corners into the middle of the origami. Repeat for the other side. Grab a black crayon, marker or pen and draw they eyes, ears and nose. These adorable Fox Marks The Spot -DIY fox corner bookmarks are a fun way to mark your pages in your journal, your favorite book or your lego instructions! Hey gardeners...did you make our origami fox corner bookmarks? If so, send us your pictures to flowers@youareagardenr.com to be featured on our site! #PullYourWeeds | #PlantYourSeeds | #Origami | #GardeningTools

Meet the gardeners Saturday 10/15/22 at Bottle Hill Day in Madison, NJ. We love our annual tradition of attending this incredible community event. We can't wait to see what sprouts this year! Stay tuned for booth info and more fun! Click Here to see why Bottle Hill Day 2021 was the #bestdayever Photos taken at Bottle Hill Day in Madison, NJ October 2021

Think of your thoughts like planting seeds in a garden, when you nurture them- they grow. stronger. Our thoughts have a direct influence on the way we feel. When we plant negative thoughts we create negative emotions and when we plant positive thoughts we create positive emotions. Soooo...what seeds are you going to plant today? Scroll down for some gardener inspired quotes to help you keep planting more positive thoughts. "Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; for it becomes your destiny." ~Lao Tzu "Kind hearts are the gardens, Kind thoughts are the roots, Kind words are the flowers, Kind deeds are the fruits, Take care of your garden and keep out the weeds, Fill it with sunshine, Kind words, and Kind deeds." ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellows If you are looking for a new 'gardening tool' to help you redirect your thoughts from negative to positive...Click Here for one of our favorite tools the whole family can use! #PullYourWeeds®

Hey gardeners, did you know that coloring can be as relaxing as a deep meditation? The health benefits of coloring are countless, which is why it is an excellent gardening tool to use after a long day at school or the office. This calming activity is also a wonderful way to unwind as a family as gardeners of all ages can benefit from it. So...pull out your colored pencils, crayons or markers, gardeners and scroll down for some free #PullYourWeeds® coloring sheets to download. <> <> <>

Two weeks ago, I had the greatest pleasure to train the staff of the Califon School in Califon, NJ on our brand new One-Click SEL Program. They are already digging and planting seeds with their students in grades K-8. We are so excited to team up and work closely with the staff and students of the Califon School for the entire 2022/2023 school year. We can't wait to see where it grows! Stay tuned for a School Spotlight on the Califon School coming this fall. Get your school on our fall lineup. Learn more about our SEL services and programs by clicking here. (photo features an icebreaker activity & gardener goodies for our in-person teacher training sessions) LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR SEL SERVICES, ASSEMBLIES AND PROGRAMS --> CLICK HERE

com·fort zone -noun: comfort zone; a place or situation where one feels safe or at ease and without stress. Aaahh the comfort zone, a place where we like to go to rest, recharge and feel completely ourselves. For most gardeners this comfort zone is at home with our family and stepping out of it can sometimes be a challenge. Feeling confident and calm in environments that may not feel as safe and secure as home can be hard for young gardeners, especially at school. It is important for all gardeners to remember that when we are out of our comfort zones, it can sometimes be difficult to be the best versions of our ourselves. Feeling uncomfortable can often lead to inconsiderate and even unkind behaviors. Recognizing this about ourselves and that others may be experiencing this same feeling as well, is equally as important. At the root of it all, you never know what someone is growing through. Today on the #PullYourWeeds® Blog we are sharing some helpful 'Gardening Tools' for gardeners to use when they are feeling out of their comfort zone at school (or anytime they are feeling uncomfortable). These tools also help when gardeners are encountering their peers who are not being considerate or kind. Go-To Gardening Tools To Get You Back In The Comfort Zone Take 2-3 deep breaths and remind yourself that this moment will pass soon. It is only temporary. Keep a little rock or trinket in your pocket or backpack, rub it between your fingers when you are feeling uncomfortable and have a positive mantra to repeat to yourself. "I am confident, I am calm, I am safe. Try and jot down the uncomfortable feelings and emotions you are experiencing. You can share this with a family member or trusted source after school. Pick 3 happy thoughts before you go to school and focus on them whenever you feel out of your comfort zone. If you are really struggling talk to your teacher, counselor or school nurse. Remember gardeners sometimes there are no tools that can help you feel better right away but the simple act of identifying your uncomfortable feelings and recognizing what caused it, helps you grow through what you go through. Keep 'pulling your weeds', 'planting new seeds' and 'enjoying the flowers along the way'!

No matter your culture, upbringing or background, the feelings of joy, anger, happiness, fear, hope and sadness are universal. Even though these words are translated differently in all languages, all human beings can relate to how they feel. The You Are a Gardener® mindset is rooted in the power of 3 little words...flowers, weeds and seeds: -Flowers being our joyful feelings/thoughts/emotions. -Weeds being our negative feelings/thoughts/emotions, and -Seeds being the opportunity to positively learn and grow through every experience & encounter. We believe at You Are a Gardener® that now more than ever there is an opportunity for humankind to come together and transcend the barriers that keep us divided. It's time to nurture a new language we all can relate to and benefit from. Learning a new language takes time, patience, motivation and consistency and this universal language of emotions is felt and experienced by all. Let's work together as a universal society to recognize how important it is to identify negative emotions and encounters, to have the ability to communicate them with a trusted source and have the positive tools to help ourselves manage these emotions to keep us moving forward...together. Change is one of the most natural processes in our world and everything evolves over time. Embracing the change of how we educate and empower our children with positive tools to help them move forward in this world confidently and calmly will occur over time. With repetition, patience and commitment to our younger generation we can help make their future calmer, closer, kinder and more inclusive than ever before. Raising a new generation of emotionally resilient children starts with us. So... who's ready to dig in and learn a new language? Click Here --> For an Introductory to the You Are a Gardener® Mindset. Click Here --> To purchase a copy of our children's book. Click Here --> To learn more about our workshops, assemblies and SEL services. Click Here --> To watch our videos.

We love homemade pancakes but we never seem to have enough time to make them in the mornings before school/work. When we heard about sheet pan pancakes from one of our gardener friends, we knew we had to put it to the test and see if it was a #PullYourWeeds® approved recipe. Not only were these pancakes quick and easy to make, they also froze wonderfully which means they are great for weekday breakfasts. You can have extra fun with the toppings as there is plenty of room to get creative. We chose blueberries and chocolate chips and left the middle plain. All you have to do for this one sheet wonder of a recipe is -double your favorite pancake recipe, line a baking sheet with parchment paper and grease it, pour on your batter, layer with your favorite toppings, bake at 425 degrees for about 12-15 minutes in the middle rack and keep your eyes on it, you want the sheet pan pancake to be just turning golden brown. Dig in & enjoy! Cooking and baking with kids is wonderful for their social and emotional development. It helps build confidence, encourages creativity, uses practical math, and helps take your mind off your stress aka 'weeds'! It is one of Gardener Anna's favorite go-to 'Gardening Tools'. What are some of your favorite recipes to make with your family? We would love to share them on our #PullYourWeeds® Blog. Email us at flowers@youareagardener.com for a chance to be featured!

From private family workshops to individual classroom programs, entire school assemblies to a One-Click SEL curriculum for teachers...our fall lineup of SEL programs and services has a little something for everyone. ✔︎ We work with all budgets to ensure your school or family is getting the most our of our services. ✔︎ All programs and services are completely customizable to fit the needs of your school. ✔︎ Anyone, anywhere can signup at anytime! ✔︎ Our program is guaranteed to make a positive and impactful impression with your students, staff and families! What are you waiting for? Let's dig into a successful school year together! Contact us today at flowers@youareagardener.com Bright, uplifting and positive content for kids is needed now more than ever. The #PullYourWeeds® SEL Programs, Workshops & Assemblies for children ages 4-11 are rooted in empathy, growth mindset tools, self-empowerment, confidence building, conflict resolution skills, self-compassion and mindfulness. Contact us today at flowers@youareagardener.com

Thank you Summer 2022! From Sea Bright to Nantucket, Ohio to Michigan and all the back roads in between...you have taken our family on the most meaningful journey and we are forever grateful! 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.

"There's a better way to do it. Find it." ~Thomas Edison We're having a Thomas Edison moment over here this week. After coming across this incredible quote we were inspired to take a step back and look at all of the programs, resources and content we have created and look for ways to make them better. Needless to say, a VERY bright light bulb went off this week for the future of our programs. At You Are a Gardener® we are always looking for ways to improve, strengthen and effectively communicate our message. At the root of it all our mission is to continue to empower kids with tons of tools to help them proceed confidently and calmly when they encounter stress and uncomfortable emotions. Our goal is to never get comfortable with a way of doing things..."there's a better way to do it..."and we will continue to find it! Scroll down for more inspirational quotes from Thomas Edison "There's a better way to do it. Find it." ~Thomas Edison (challenge accepted) "I have not failed 10,000 times-I've successfully found 10,000 ways that will not work." -Thomas Edison (talk about a 'weeds to seeds' attitude!) "The greatest invention in the world is the mind of a child."-Thomas Edison (the gardeners of today are the flowers of the future...) LOOKING TO SHED SOME LIGHT ON YOUR SCHOOL'S SEL PLAN? CLICK HERE!

A huge focus on our platform stems in self-compassion and acknowledging that loving ourselves first, is the foundation on which all other positive and inclusive relationships can be built. Planting the seeds of self-compassion helps us to embrace our own individuality, celebrate our uniqueness and appreciate our own strengths. One of the core elements when practicing self-compassion is self-kindness vs. self-judgment. Today we are sharing a helpful and positive new 'gardening tool' called Dear Me, Love, Me to help gardeners of all ages embrace self-kindness during times of self-judgement. This particular self-compassion exercise can be very helpful for teen gardeners. This 2 step activity features fun downloadable Dear Me, Love, Me activity sheets. Scroll down for our self-compassion activities and free PDF downloads. << CLICK THE IMAGE TO DOWNLOAD THE DEAR ME, LOVE, ME SELF-COMPASSION ACTIVITY SHEETS>> When it comes to practicing self-compassion some people find it helpful to think of and focus on being kind(er) to to our younger self. This process can help connect you with feelings of when you were younger and how much has grown inside of you since that time frame. It allows you to journey through time and connect with an authentic part of yourself that welcomes kindness and connection. Part 1: Dear Me, Love, Me Activity -Write down 5 of your biggest accomplishments that you could go back and tell your younger self about. Think of moments, experiences, skills and milestones that would make your younger self proud. Allow your younger self to feel the reassurance from your presence and appreciate the accomplishments of you. This exercise helps encourage feelings of self-kindness and appreciation of our individuality. Part 2: Dear Me, Love, Me Activity -Write down 5 things you LOVE about yourself. Keep this list with you everywhere you go and reference it anytime you find yourself in a moment of self-judgement. Negative self-talk is a common 'weed' for most gardeners. The more we aware of it, the more opportunities we have to replace these thoughts with seeds of self-kindness. It is also helpful to picture talking negatively about yourself to your younger self. This visual image of being unkind to your younger version of you; can be a helpful 'gardening tool' to bring awareness to negative thought patterns and how harmful they can be. For more gardening tools & self-compassion exercises for kids and adults, Click Here to read our post on how important it is to Be Your Own Bestie!