2026 Spring Graduation

April finished the last paid classes for the Spring Semester of our newly launched Junior Gardeners Academy; funded primarily through Step Up EMA scholarship participants for Home School Education. Our students learned how to grow produce to enter in the Hillsborough County 2026 Youth Vegetable and Fruit Show and we are elated to announce that they earned first place for Watermelon Radishes, second place for Lettuces and third place for Zucchini.

The Junior Gardeners Academy is a huge success with all current students wishing to continue through the Fall Semester and we are still unable to accept new students at this time. We will be celebrating our spring semester students with a graduation ceremony on Wednesday, May 6th at 9 am; rain or shine. Event is open to the public.

We will be providing light snacks, coffee service and other beverages. All are welcome to attend, applaud and encourage our newest generation of gardeners. Students will receive a formal diploma for completing their classes and be available to talk to you about everything they’ve learned; along with moms and dads who have been an integral part of this homeschool learning journey in the garden.

The experience of being able to teach this launch semester has been nothing short of life-changing spectacular and beyond our wildest dreams in terms of success. We are grateful to share our knowledge with the next generation and offer our best “how-to’s” so other gardens can experience this same success. There is incredible revenue available for non-profit gardens who are able to provide this type of educational experience. You can indeed increase your community involvement and your bottom line at the same time.

For the launch semester, (at a discounted price), the program generated over $1,400 in additional revenue for the garden by teaching 2 classes per month. That is an average of $175 per class, twice per month, simply to show up and teach them how to grow things! What could be more fun and more financially rewarding?

The Fall Semester is already promising to come in at over $2,000 in revenue with 2 classes per month and we have a wait list that likely won’t open up any time soon. If you haven’t had a chance to meet any of our Junior Gardeners, you might just run into them on our volunteer days when they come to look after their garden bed, harvest and volunteer.