187: From Seed to Sanctuary: Cultivating Garden-Centered Classrooms with Sara Rubens

From Seed to Sanctuary: Cultivating Garden-Centered Classrooms with Sara Rubens

What if your classroom didn’t just have a garden… but was shaped by one?

In this episode of the Outdoor Classrooms Podcast, Victoria sits down with Sara Rubens, author of A Love Letter for a Garden-Centered Life, to explore how gardens can become living, breathing learning environments for children.

Together, they discuss:

1. What it truly means to live — and teach — a garden-centered life
2. How gardens support inquiry, literacy, science, and social-emotional growth
3. Creating rhythms and rituals that connect children to the land
4. Turning any outdoor space into a sanctuary for learning

Sarah shares how tending a garden mirrors the work of educators: planting seeds, nurturing growth, trusting seasons, and believing in what is not yet visible.

Whether you’re building a school garden, reimagining your outdoor classroom, or simply longing to deepen children’s connection to nature, this conversation will inspire you to see your teaching space differently.

🌱 Because when we cultivate gardens, we cultivate belonging.

Join the Outdoor Classrooms Community:

Want to continue the conversation, access our workshop library, or collaborate with like-minded educators?

👉 Join the CIRCLE Membership and grow into a more confident, connected outdoor classroom leader.

FREE Outdoor Classroom Resource:

🌿 Our Children's Library: 4 Types of Teaching Gardens Booklist (PDF) (halfway down the page)

Outdoor Classroom Resources & Links:

🎓 Outdoor Classrooms Teacher Certification Program

🎓 Outdoor Teaching Bootcamp

🎓 Seasonal Masterclass Bundle (includes Exploring Nature in Winter Masterclass)

🎓 Teaching Beyond Walls Capstone Course

🌸 CIRCLE Membership for Educators

🌿 30-Day Gratitude in Nature Challenge

🌸 1-hour Online Workshop Library

Connect with Victoria:

WEBSITE: www.outdoor-classrooms.com

EMAIL: [email protected]

Instagram: instagram.com/outdoor_classrooms/

Facebook: Facebook.com/OutdoorClassrooms1

Mentioned in this episode:

Exploring Nature in Spring Masterclass

Exploring Nature in Spring Masterclass (receive all 4 seasonal courses when you enroll!): https://www.outdoor-classrooms.com/exploring-nature-in-spring-masterclass/