Bringing Little Green Thumbs to Your Classroom

Applications are Open for 2026!

Before submitting an application (link below) please review the following information and check this list to see if your school is already involved. If you have any further questions, please contact us.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Resources and Support for Teachers

We provide an indoor light kit, grow boxes, garden supplies, classroom resources and teacher training to help you get started. The Little Green Thumbs Coordinator provides ongoing phone and email consultation.

Participant Responsibilities

If accepted, participating teachers are asked to:

  • Return a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the teacher and school principal

  • Participate in teacher training

  • Participate in annual Program Evaluation - statistics and feedback are important for reports to funders, fundraising and improvements to the program

  • Share occasional stories and photos from the garden

  • Maintain contact with the Coordinator to receive updated information and to help with transition in case of staffing changes

  • Pick up soil, seeds and fertilizer from the Root Seller Garden Centre in northeast Edmonton (Oct - Jan)

It is our goal that participating teachers continue to garden year after year and we will do our best to provide ongoing support and replacement supplies, such as potting mix, fertilizer and seeds. If the indoor garden is no longer used as part of Little Green Thumbs, the school is required to return the garden equipment.

Space Requirement

Location: The garden must be located indoors and not near a door that opens to the outside. The plants are grown in winter and will die if exposed to cold blasts. 

Size: The garden requires floor space of approx. 1.5 m by 1.5 m. Windows are helpful but not required.
 Due to the weight of soil and water, the garden boxes need to sit on the floor. 

Ceiling: We hang the grow light with chains from ceiling t-bars with special clips. In some cases, a shelving unit can be used. We provide information for the correct size but are not able to provide a shelving unit. 

Electrical: The grow light must be plugged into a lightly loaded electrical circuit and must not be on a circuit that is already used for computers, Smart Board and microwave ovens. Extension chords are not recommended, so we need to place the garden close to an outlet. Please note: The use of an indoor grow lamp will result in a slight increase in your school’s electricity bill.


Water: No special plumbing is required for the garden. For easy watering, a close source of water is helpful.

Garden Setup

APPLY NOW

The above link will take you to the national Little Green Thumbs website. You will be asked to create an account, then select your province and school district.

If you experience any difficulties, please contact us.

Claudia Bolli
Little Green Thumbs Coordinator
Email: lgtcoordinator@sustainablefoodedmonton.org