Cultivating the Future: School Gardens and Community Growth with Farmer Kim
Hi, y’all! Johanna here from the TX Soil Sisters.
( The podcast media player is below w/ links to things we talk about. Or listen here.)
This is the sixth in a series of podcasts that we recorded from the 2025 Southern Family Farmers and Food Systems conference at Texas State University in San Marcos, TX, on August 4-5.
SFFFS is hosted by our friends at Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance and Small Producers Initiative.
MEET OUR GUEST: Kim Aman (aka Farmer Kim) is a former public school teacher and a 7th generation farmer, growing the school garden movement in North Texas. She is the Executive Director of Grow Garden Grow with a team that supports over 7,000 students learning and growing in school gardens.
Kim founded and leads the non-profit NTx School Garden Network, where they work with educators and administrators to share resources, best practices and connect school garden leaders in the region to grow and strengthen the movement.
Additionally, Kim works on the boards of Slow Food DFW, Grow North Texas, local PTA groups and The Organizing College.
We dig in on school gardens with Kim Aman, the executive director and founder of Grow Garden Grow. From public school teacher to a leader in the school garden movement in Texas, Farmer Kim shares insights on the importance of connecting children with agriculture, the benefits of school gardens, and tips for funding and sustaining such programs. The conversation covers the wide-ranging impacts of school gardens on students, teachers, parents, and communities.
Farmer Kim's story is rooted in her childhood memories of gardening with her grandfather—a connection that fueled her love for the planet and a passion for healthy living. Having realized the disconnect between today's youth and food sources, she was driven to create change through education and gardening.
Kim's work is not just about growing plants—it's about sowing seeds of knowledge and community spirit. She emphasizes that understanding the educational needs of schools is crucial, as well as connecting gardening activities to the curriculum. By aligning garden activities with educational standards, teachers find value and integrate these programs into their teaching strategies.
Cultivating a Future: Involving Students and Families
This conversation highlights the role of students as agents of change. By participating in garden programs, students develop an appreciation for healthy food and sustainability. These lessons extend beyond the classroom, as children influence their families to make healthier food choices and engage in sustainable habits.
Maintaining the Momentum: Overcoming Challenges
When discussing the challenges of maintaining school gardens, Kim noted the importance of having a solid plan and administrative support. Gardens must be seen as a communal effort rather than the responsibility of a few individuals. Engaging the wider community, including parents and local organizations, ensures sustainability and success.
Lockhart ISD Ag Advisory Committee Meeting
Crystal and I learned so much from our conversation with Farmer Kim that we were able to take back to Lockhart and share at the LISD ag advisory board meeting with our local teachers. We don’t have to reinvent the wheel to empower our students to steward the land and grow healthy, nutrient-dense food the old way.
Thank you, Farmer Kim, for building this foundation and for making those resources available to anyone interested in developing and maintaining a successful school garden!
Happy farming and healthy living, y’all.
Jo (and Crystal) ❤️
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L to R: Johanna, Crystal, Farmer Kim - Post Interview Selfie
listen to the Podcast Here:
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Time Stamps & Links
00:00 Welcome to the Soil Sisters Podcast
00:24 Introducing Farmer Kim and Her Journey
01:33 The Birth of the School Garden Movement
03:38 Challenges and Successes in School Gardens
06:34 Expanding the Garden Initiative
08:00 Integrating Gardens into Education
10:52 Harvesting and Utilizing Garden Produce
13:05 High School Programs and Community Impact
15:37 Long-term Impact on Students
18:09 Resiliency and Problem Solving in the Garden
18:30 The Impact of Technology on Learning
19:21 The Importance of Physical Books
20:43 Engaging Parents Through School Gardens
21:40 Children as Agents of Change
23:23 The North Texas School Garden Network
24:34 Sustaining School Gardens
26:33 Training and Resources for School Gardens
28:55 Revamping Neglected Gardens
29:35 The Role of Principals in School Gardens
31:55 The Benefits of School Gardens
32:59 Final Thoughts and Appreciation
Soil Matters Radio Hour on KLKT 107.9 FM, Radio Lockhart
If you live in Lockhart, you can catch the Soil Matters Radio Hour live each WEDNESDAY from 5-6p on KLKT 107.9. If you don’t live in Lockhart, you can listen to the livestream at KLKT.org or on your favorite radio app.
