We have started a little tradition in our family that anytime we see a Little Free Library® we leave a signed copy of our children's book, You Are a Gardener®. Earlier this summer we left a copy in Sag Harbor Village and recently on our family vacation to Michigan we left copies in Harbor Springs, Petoskey and Charlevoix. Little Free Library is a nonprofit organization based in Hudson, Wisconsin.Their mission is to be a catalyst for building community, inspiring readers, and expanding book access for all through a global network of volunteer-led Little Free Libraries. As we drive away we always like to imagine who takes them home! What #littlefreelibrary should we visit next? 🦊 Send us an email to flowers@youareagardener.com!

Did you know that in the latest episode of Camp Hello Gardeners®, gardeners can earn up to 6 new gardening tool badges?!? As gardeners there are so many tools available to help us proceed confidently and calmly and this new video features some super fun tools for gardeners of all ages! Click Here to watch our brand new video and start earning your badges today! Do you have a particular tool that helps you redirect your thoughts from your weeds to your flowers (positive to negative)-we would love to hear about it-send us an email to flowers@youareagardener.com! #weedstoseeds #pullyourweeds #gardeningtools

Who's ready to tropic like it's hot... because today's post is all about saying aloha to some easy and fun ideas to turn your next backyard adventure into a lovely little Luau! This past weekend Gardener Anna and Gardener Aidan teamed up with their Grandparents to host a sweet summer celebration with a Hawaiian theme. Scroll down to learn some fun tricks to party like a pineapple: Pineapple Cream Cheese Spread Mold your favorite cheese spread into an oval shape and let chill in the fridge for a couple of hours. You can use plastic wrap to mold the shape. Decorate with raw almonds and the stem of a pineapple. Serve with textured crackers. Hawaiian Sliders Make your favorite mini meatballs and add barbecue or sweet and sour sauce. Serve on mini Hawaiian rolls. Garnish with a lei. Pineapple Boat Hollow out half a pineapple and use it to serve a summer salsa and chips! We used a strawberry based salsa....so yummy! Personalized Pineapples are a fun project for the kids! Cut out some fruit slices, grab some cherries and affix with toothpicks! A big mahalo to Anna, Aidan, OuOu & Poppy for putting on such a happy Hawaiian Luau! #HappyDays | #FutureIsFlowers | #YouAreAGardener

I hope you are enjoying your summer, it is flying by! For those of you who are new to this site, my name is Shanna Truffini and my children’s book and social and emotional learning (SEL) platform, You Are a Gardener®️ uses gardening vocabulary to help kids identify strong emotions and turn them into empowering and positive solutions! It's all about turning weeds into seeds! Throughout the past 4 years, I have worked with school districts, parent organizations, non-profits and families throughout NJ both virtually and in-person. My #PullYourWeeds® Workshops are an organic and simplified approach to SEL and infuses easily with pre-existing programs in school and at home. Introducing the You Are a Gardener® mindset to your children a consistent basis is where the real benefits of the program take root! Are you ready to dig into a new SEL mindset to help your children identify, communicate & manage their emotions through an empowering process? I am now opening up my workshop bookings this fall 2021/2022 to include schools, parent organizations, private family sessions, non-profit groups and anyone else who is interested in learning more about how the You Are a Gardener® mindset helps children to identify, communicate and manage big emotions through an empowering process to them proceed confidently and calmly! Here is how you can get started: ❁ PICK YOUR PREFERENCE: -In Person-Present 4 separate 30 minute #PullYourWeeds® Workshops in library or auditorium, combine grades/classes as you see fit (for select schools only, limited space available) -Live/Virtual Via Zoom-All classrooms can log in once a month at a designated time. -Pre-Recorded Monthly Videos-Teachers can use in the classroom at their convenience. ❁ PICK YOUR TIME FRAME: -Monthly (10 workshops) -Bi-Monthly (5 workshops) -Seasonally (4) -General Introduction (1) ALL WORKSHOPS INCLUDE: A private web link for your school with access to resources, classroom activities, visual aids, gardening tool badges and more that support each monthly workshop. A flyer with information to be communicated with parents/ guardians in your school's newsletter on what the gardeners are learning in each #PullYourWeeds® Workshop will also be available. EACH UNIQUE #PULLYOURWEEDS® SEL WORKSHOP FEATURES: -A "Gardener Recap" to encourage the students to feel confident with the vocabulary and mindset of the program. Consistency is key! -A 'Weeds to Seeds' story from a 'Peer Gardener". This interactive process builds conflict/resolution skills, encourages empathy and creates an open communication with a cognitive thinking process. -Introduce students to 2-3 new 'Gardening Tools'. These life skills/tools are rooted in self-compassion, mindfulness, growth mindset, confidence building, positive thinking and self-control. Examples- brain breaks, deep breathing techniques , grounding exercises, mindful moments, origami, DIY activities, guided drawings and more. -All students receive virtual gardening tool badges to collect throughout the year. -All students will receive a digital You Are a Gardener® Certificate of Achievement. ALL OPTIONS CAN ALSO INCLUDE: - A 20-30 min introductory workshop for your staff/group as well as an additional workshop for families-preferably in early September. - A book drive for families at your school or group (a form will be provided to you) with 10% back to your PTO,school organization for any sales of the You Are a Gardener® children's book. Get your school on my schedule today! Send an email to flowers@youareagardener.com Read Some Testimonials From Teachers, Parents, Counselors & More...Click Here! Looking forward to spreading some seeds together! Shanna Truffini #PullYourWeeds | #BackToIt | #DigIn

As we start to gear up for the 2021/2022 school year, we would like to take a minute to reflect on all the kind words, support and love we have been receiving! As our #PullYourWeeds® SEL Programs continue to take root, we have our incredible community to thank for helping us grow. We have so many wonderful additions that we are adding to our workshops/assemblies for this upcoming year. Our goal is to make our resources, tools, and videos easy and accessible for all! ⭐️ CLICK HERE TO READ MORE TESTIMONIALS ⭐️ If you are interested in learning more about our workshops/assemblies for schools, organizations and families, please email us at flowers@youareagardener.com.

One of our family favorite summertime meals is fish tacos! Not only is this recipe packed with flavor and texture, it is super easy to make and clean up! Kids also love this dish because it is always fun to build your own tacos. Scroll down for the recipe! The Gardeners Favorite Fish Tacos -Frozen Battered White Fish -Taco Shells (you can use hard or soft) -Fresh Shredded Cabbage -Green Salsa -Sour Cream -Queso Fresca (you can find this in most grocery stores) *Garnish with lime wedges* Bake the fish per the instructions on the package. Put all ingredients in separate bowls. Construct your own tacos! You can also add some lime wedges for a fresh garnish. What are some of you favorite simple, summertime recipes? Send us an email with photos to flowers@youareagardener.com.

Raising Emotionally Empowered Kids! Dig into a new mindset to help children identify, communicate & manage their emotions through an empowering process! From teachers to parents to entrepreneurs, the You Are a Gardener®️ seeds are spreading far and wide ! Watch our latest testimonial video to see how our programs are taking root! FEATURING: Kim Teschemacher has been teaching 4th grade for almost 5 years now in our home state of New Jersey. She has been using the You Are a Gardener SEL programs in her classroom since her first day of teaching. To watch an episode of Hello Gardeners® featuring Kim Click Here! Kiana Davis owner and founder of Tutor Kids n More has been helping us spread seeds with the families and children she works with. To learn more about Kiana and to see her in a session of Camp Hello Gardeners® Click Here! Our roots with Anne Grossman owner and founder of Rebel Daughter Cookies® go way back! To learn more about Anne and her scrumptious cookie company Click Here! You can also see Anne in an episode of Hello Gardeners® as well as in a session of Camp Hello Gardeners®. Watch Now! We teamed up with Leah, a 15 year old entrepreneur when she was only 14 and had just started her very own company called Homemade Happiness by Leah. She has been an incredible role model for Anna & Aidan and her bath products are the best! You can see Leah in our Entrepreneur Episode of Hello Gardeners® by Clicking Here!! Shanna Truffini’s children’s book and platform, You Are a Gardener®️ uses gardening vocabulary to help kids identify strong emotions and turn them into empowering and positive solutions. Since You Are a Gardener® was published in December of 2017, Shanna Truffini has developed several new social and emotional learning (SEL) programs to help empower children with tools to help their 'gardens' grow healthy and strong. Throughout the past 4 years, Shanna has worked with various organizations and school districts throughout NJ both virtually and in-person. Her #PullYourWeeds® Workshops are an organic and simplified approach to SEL and infuses easily with preexisting programs. All Truffini's programs are rooted in the power of the words flowers, weeds and seeds. This universal language helps create a new narrative for children to navigate their emotions through an empowering process that helps them proceed confidently and calmly. To connect with Shanna and start spreading some seeds at your school, home or organization please email flowers@youaregardener.com Thank you to all our gardener friends for helping us spread some seeds! If you have a story about how our programs have impacted you, your family or your students please send us an email to flowers@youareagardener.com

Hello Gardeners! Being able to recognize what you are feeling and why you are feeling it can be sometimes be a challenge. Having the ability to stop and figure out what you need in a particular moment is something that takes being honest with yourself, patience and trial & error. To find out what works best for you, is to try out various coping strategies, aka 'gardening tools'. For example, when you find yourself stressed and have some 'weeds' popping up, try taking a walk, doing a quick breathing technique, or playing a game with a friend or family member. Keep track of what works to help you take your mind off your 'weeds' (your negative thoughts) and focus on your 'flowers' (your positive thoughts) but also take note of what doesn't help! Sometimes, we just need some alternate activities to disrupt those weeds from growing. That's why today in this #PullYourWeeds Blog post we are making "#PullYourWeeds® Pinwheels" which is 'positive distraction' tool to help you get out of the weeds and back to your flowers! This flower themed pinwheel can help gardeners of all ages when they are feeling sad, scared overwhelmed, or mad. Just spin the wheel and see what calming or relieving action (gardening tool) you can take to help you try and redirect your thoughts. It's also a wonderful way to introduce new coping strategies at home or in the classroom! What you'll need: Cut a small circle out of one of the paper plates, a slightly larger circle from the second, and cut flower petals from the third. From the scraps cut out a very small circle, poke two holes in the center, and thread through your twist tie. Poke one hole in the center of each of your paper plates. Paint the plate with the petals like you would a flower and the two other plates colors of your choice. Attach all three layers - small circle, larger circle, circle with petals - by poking the twist tie strands through and securing. Then, cut out a square on the small circle and write "I feel..." above the cut out. On the second layer, write some of the difficult feelings you experience - stress, anxiety, sadness, frustration, impatience, etc. Then on the outer layer, write some enjoyable activities or techniques that help disrupt negative feelings and emotions - take a walk, read a book, listen to music, drink cold water, do a craft, talk to someone you trust, 5 minutes of deep breathing, take a bath, play a game... When you feel some of those difficult feelings coming on, spin your #PullYourWeeds® Pinwheel and give that coping strategy a try! Did you do this activity with you students or with you kids? Send us pictures of your pinwheels! This craft is a wonderful example of how to incorporate SEL art projects into your classroom and at home. Thanks for reading along and remember gardeners.... #PullYourWeeds!

As most of you know Social and Emotional Learning plans (SEL) are needed now more than ever in education and many progressive schools are introducing new ways to infuse SEL programs throughout the entire school day. Research indicates that students receiving quality SEL instruction demonstrated better academic performance, improved attitudes and behaviors, fewer discipline issues and reduced emotional distress. When children can manage their feelings and emotions, they are better equipped to handle the academic day. According to Dr. Lisa R. Gleason our Assistant Commissioner Division of Academics and Performance at New Jersey Department of Education she states that, "we have to make sure our focus is on the social and emotional needs of the students and staff first, so they think of school as a safe place, before getting back to a new normal. In efforts to get school the school year off to a bright start, Shanna Truffini and the #PullYourWeeds® team are now booking a variety of SEL school workshops, assemblies, in-services and pre-services intended for students, educators, and parents to further spread the seeds of emotional and social wellness. Our #PullYourWeeds® Program embraces the power of the words flowers, weeds and seeds. This universal language helps create a new narrative for children to identify, communicate and manage their emotions through an empowering process to help them proceed confidently and calmly. Throughout the past 3 years, Shanna has worked with school districts throughout NJ both virtually and in-person. Her #PullYourWeeds® workshops are an organic and simplified approach to SEL and infuses easily with pre-existing programs. Shanna is now booking the following workshops for the 2021-2022 school year: Student Workshops/Assemblies: Interactive SEL workshops featuring a book reading, mindful moments, grounding exercises, sensory activities and other SEL tools (in class or virtual) Teacher Professional Development Workshops: Teacher in-service and pre-service workshops including resources for successful implementation of the program Parent workshops: Provides parents and families communication tools and systems to use at home with key takeaways from the program We encourage you to plant the seeds of social and emotional wellness for your students and take the next steps to book the #PullYourWeeds® Program for your school. To directly connect you with Shanna for a quick virtual tour of her programs, please send an email to flowers@youareagardener.com >>To learn about Truffini's recent experiences with the Riverview School in Denville, NJ you can read more by clicking here << >>Find out more about the programs Truffini implemented this May and June for the Central Ave School in Madison, NJ by clicking here <<

After a long 18 long months, we are officially back filming with our Illustrator/Videographer Kelsey Jordan from KGD Films. We are always talking about 'Weeds to Seeds' stories and the creation of Camp Hello Gardeners® is rooted in just that. Up until February of 2020 the gardeners and Kelsey were filming a new episode of Hello Gardeners® every 6-8 weeks. In efforts to keep spreading seeds, despite not being able to film together, we launched the spin off series Camp Hello Gardeners® in June 2020. The idea for the series was inspired by all the incredibly talented gardener friends we have connected with over the years that have exceptional skills/tools to help empower children . By creating short clips filmed on mobile devices and the help of the extremely talented Kelsey Jordan, we were able to create an uplifting and bright 25-30 minute program where kids could learn new skills, play games and feel like they were actually at a camp right in their own living rooms. Some featured activities included: garden yoga, DIY activities, guided drawings, exercises, Qi Gong, music class, arts & crafts and more! This brand new session of Camp Hello Gardeners® will be airing soon with lots of new additions, guest gardeners and more! Stay tuned to our 'Weeds to Seeds' Newsletter, @youareagardener on Instagram and our #PullYourWeeds® Blog for more details! If you have a special talent or an inspirational story and would like to be featured in an upcoming session, please email us at flowers@youaregardener.com. If you are looking for uplifting, positive and empowering content for your kids...#StayTuned... a brand new #CampHelloGardeners is coming soon. 🎥 To catch up on the last 4 sessions of Camp Hello Gardeners®-Click Here!

We are always looking for positive ways to keep the lines of communication open and flowing between children and adults. Communicating feelings, thoughts and encounters both positive and negative helps children build a solid foundation of acknowledging their emotions. That's why we have teamed up with a Speech Therapist, Gardener Mary Kate to teach us some of our favorite words using American Sign Language (ASL). The benefits of learning sign language go beyond communicating with the deaf community, you can use this language to communicate from far distances, at a loud venue and you can even use it underwater. < PRESS PLAY TYO LEARN SOME OF OUR FAVORITE WORDS IN SIGN LANGUAGE > According to the ASL, "sign language increases opportunities for parents and children to bond in positive ways. This can eliminate untold stress and anxiety for a child and opens pathways of greater trust and understanding in the parent-child relationship." To watch this full episode of Camp Hello Gardeners® -CLICK HERE!

Check out a behind the scenes picture 📸 of Gardener Kelsey (our illustrator/videographer) setting up for her live guided drawing at our Virtual #PullYourWeeds Assembly for the 5th Graders at the Central Ave School in Madison,NJ this week! Scroll down, grab a piece of paper and a pencil and watch a full video on how to create our signature fox with Kelsey. Fun for gardeners of all ages! Bright, uplifting and positive content for kids is needed now more than ever. The #PullYourWeeds® Workshops and Assemblies are rooted in social emotional learning (SEL) skills, growth mindset tools, self-empowerment, confidence building, conflict resolution skills, self-compassion and mindfulness, and are guaranteed to change the way your students and staff manage stress and big emotions with empowering results! Get your school on our schedule! Fall spaces are already booking up, Click Here to Book Now! LEARN HOW TO DRAW FOXIE FROM OUR BOOK WITH OUR ILLUSTARATOR KELSEY JORDAN PRESS PLAY FOR A GUIDED DRAWING - FUN FOR GARDENERS OF ALL AGES!