STEM Garden Initiative
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Growing food, STEM skills, and student leaders through climate-smart gardens.
Sometimes, what we plant today is what feeds tomorrow 🇳🇬
29/09/2026
What if we stopped calling students "leaders of tomorrow" and started treating them as leaders of today?
That was the question that stayed with me after my time at the Teach For Nigeria Pre-Service Training Institute.
I had the privilege of facilitating two sessions for the incredible 2026 Fellows at the Teach For Nigeria Pre Service Training Institute, and I left more inspired than when I came.
My Morning session was on Student Leadership. Co-facilitated with the inspiring Shulammite Aremo, we explored what it truly means to raise student voices. It wasn't just theory- We watched, we discussed, we reflected on how a teacher's intentional act of co-creating, listening, and assigning roles can unlock the collective leadership already embedded in learners.
One Fellow's comment that stayed with me: " Mary's session on Student leadership encourages me to consult, listen, and assign roles to the learners."- That’s the shift.
In our breakouts, we had a conversation about STEM and Climate Change. We flipped the script, Instead of seeing climate problems as distant global issues, we asked: How can these same problems be leveraged to solve community problems? How can we use STEM to make learners aware, concerned, and most importantly, capable of action?
A Fellow shared, _"It was a genuine eye opener on why learners should be aware of changes in the environment."_ For me, that was the win — connecting climate education to real, local solutions.
To every Fellow who leaned in, asked questions, shared stories, and made both rooms so engaging — thank you. Your passion for quality education is contagious.
Immense gratitude to the Teach For Nigeria team for the opportunity and for the beautiful feedback and moments captured.
It was an honor to contribute.
Futureofwork STEMEducation ClimateEducation
01/09/2026
There is nothing more beautiful than the smile of a child and the promise of a green, thriving future. May your September be as bright and fruitful as a bountiful harvest.
18/08/2026
Our gardens are hands-on learning spaces where STEM comes to life.
What you should know👇👇👇
A single LinkedIn post changed everything for our students!
We received something truly special for STEM GARDEN INITIATIVE and we are filled with gratitude.
It started with a like on LinkedIn.
John Caldwell saw our work, believed in it, and supported us with some cash donations toward our school garden project. That gift went a long way.
But he didn’t stop there.
John also created a custom audio learning device for our learners and sent them all the way from the United States. These audio devices teaches students about school gardens and how to grow their own food, directly helping us to tackle one of our biggest challenges: making practical, hands-on STEAM learning accessible and engaging for all learners, regardless of background or language.
The most beautiful part?
The devices speaks both English and Yoruba.
This is what inclusivity in STEAM looks like.
Meeting learners where they are. Using language and tools that make knowledge accessible to every child, whether in a city classroom or a rural community.
This device will help us address a key challenge: making practical, local STEAM learning engaging and understandable for all students.
Thank you, John, for your generosity, your thoughtfulness, and for believing in the power of young people to grow food, and futures.
To everyone in our network: this is proof that small acts of support create big impact.
Want to support our initiative, please send a direct LinkedIn message or email us at [email protected]
Eggplant is the queen of dry-season vegetables. Meaty, versatile, and sells for premium prices when rain-fed farms have nothing!
*Growing Eggplant*
1. Sun: Loves 6-8 hours of full sun. More sun = more fruits.
2. Soil: Rich, well-draining soil or grow-bags with compost. pH 5.5 - 6.8
3. Water: Drip irrigation 2-3 times per week. Keep soil moist but not soggy.
4. Planting: Start seeds in nursery for 4 weeks. Transplant 60cm apart.
5. Feed: NPK 15:15:15 at transplant, then 15:15:30 when fruits start forming.
6. Support: Stake and prune to 2-3 stems. This gives bigger, healthier fruits.
7. Harvest: Start picking 70-80 days after transplant. Harvest every 3-4 days while skin is glossy.
*Pro tips*
- Varieties: Nadia F1 for high yield, California Black Beauty for markets, Tegina for local soups
- Pests: Watch for spider mites and fruit borers. Neem oil works great.
- Greenhouse: Grows year-round in a greenhouse with 70% less water than open field
*Uses*
- Kitchen: Stews, stir-fry, grilled, eggplant stew, and roasted dishes
- Health: High in fiber, antioxidants, and good for heart health
- Business: Sells 2x more in dry season. 1 plant = 15-25 fruits
Botanical name: _Solanum melongena_
Plant it in a greenhouse and you’ll be harvesting all year 💜
About Strawberry 🍓
Sweet, juicy, and perfect for containers! Strawberries are one of the most rewarding fruits to grow at home.
Growing Strawberries
1. Varieties: Go for "day-neutral" or "everbearing" types if you want fruit all year. Works great in warm climates.
2. Sun: Needs 6-8 hours of full sun daily for sweet berries.
3. Soil: Light, rich, well-draining soil. Mix compost + cocopeat. pH 5.5-6.5 is ideal.
4. Planting: Plant crowns so the crown sits just above soil level. Space 30cm apart.
5. Water: Keep soil moist but not soggy. Water at the base to avoid fungus on leaves.
6. Feed: Add compost or organic fertilizer every 3-4 weeks. Pinch off first flowers for stronger plants.
7. Care: Mulch with straw to keep fruit clean. Remove runners to focus energy on fruit.
8. Harvest: 3-4 months after planting. Pick when fully red. Harvest every 2-3 days.
*Pro tips*
- Containers: Grow bags, hanging baskets, and pots work perfectly
- Pests: Netting helps with birds. Neem spray for mites
- Replant: Replace plants every 2-3 years for best yields
Botanical name: _Fragaria × ananassa_
Homegrown strawberries taste 10x better than store-bought
About Thyme 🌿
Thyme is a small but mighty herb. Fragrant, hardy, and perfect for small spaces!
Growing Thyme
1. Sun: Loves 6-8 hours of full sun. The more sun, the stronger the flavor.
2. Soil: Well-draining, slightly sandy or rocky soil. Hates wet roots.
3. Water: Water sparingly. Let soil dry out between watering. Drought-tolerant once established.
4. Planting: Sow seeds shallowly or use cuttings/seedlings. Space 20-30cm apart.
5. Care: Prune after flowering to keep it bushy. No heavy feeding needed.
6. Harvest: Snip leaves anytime. Best flavor right before it flowers.
Uses
- Kitchen: Classic for soups, stews, roasted veggies, meats, and teas
- Health: Natural antiseptic + used for coughs and digestion
- Garden: Repels cabbage worms and mosquitoes. Great ground cover!
Botanical name: _Thymus vulgaris_
Grows great in pots, grow bags, and garden beds. Plant it once and it comes back every year 💚
How to teach STEM with Gardening
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Lagos