Green Jean Foundation

09/01/2026

🌊🐟 Big Things Are Growing at Manatee High School! 🌱

The Green Jean Foundation is excited to install a second 500-gallon aquaponics system at Manatee High School, expanding the hands-on learning opportunities available to Mr. Boklemann’s marine science students!

With two systems, students can explore the differences between freshwater and saltwater environments while raising species including tilapia, snook, and redfish. From water quality and aquatic biology to sustainable food production and marine science, these systems create a living laboratory right in the classroom.

A huge thank you to Phil from AquaSol, Inc. for getting the new system set up today and helping bring this project to life! This program is swimming with possibilities, and we can’t wait to see what students grow, discover, and learn! 🐟🔬🌱🌊🐟 Big Things Are Growing at Manatee High School! 🌱

08/30/2026

https://greenjeanfoundation.org/how-the-new-usda-nutrition-guidelines-connect-food-farming-and-health/
🥕 What’s Your Healthy School Lunch Favorite? 🍎

Good nutrition starts with understanding the connection between what we eat, where our food comes from, and how it supports our health. Learn more on the Green Jean Foundation website about the updated USDA nutrition guidance and how food, farming, and health are all connected in our blog: How the New USDA Nutrition Guidelines Connect Food, Farming, and Health

With the school year underway, it’s a great time to think about easy, nutritious favorites for lunches and snacks. Read the blog: How the New USDA Nutrition Guidelines Connect Food, Farming, and Health🍓 Fresh fruit, crunchy vegetables with hummus, yogurt, cheese and whole-grain crackers, apples with nut or seed butter, or a colorful wrap with veggies and protein are all simple options.

But we want to hear from you! 👇
What’s your go-to healthy school lunch or snack? Share a favorite in the comments—especially the options that kids actually get excited about eating! 😋

Let’s share ideas and make healthy choices a little easier, one lunchbox at a time. 🌱🥦

How the new USDA nutrition guidelines connect real food, farming practices, and long-term health, exploring what’s changed and why it matters.

08/28/2026

What if learning about insects, plants, and wildlife could feel like an adventure? 🌿📚
Meet Linda Smock, a Master Gardener Volunteer, educator, nature lover, and author who brings science to life through fun, engaging stories rooted in real-world science. A native Floridian and lifelong educator, Linda creates scientifically accurate books that inspire children to ask questions, explore STEM, and care for the world around them. 🌱🔬
Her newest book, Benny Bat: Betsy the Brazilian Bat’s Baby, is celebrating with a baby shower from August 15 through September 15! 🦇💚
Linda’s books go beyond the story, featuring interactive STEM activities that encourage young readers to discover, learn, and appreciate God’s creatures and the important role they play in our world.
We’re so excited to highlight an author who shows that science, storytelling, and a love for nature can grow together. 🌻📖https://youtu.be/_xi9LTqyL1w

08/27/2026

🌱 What Can You Grow in a Bucket? A LOT! 🪣🌱

Today, Green Jean Foundation staff delivered new portable bucket gardens to four schools: Alta Vista, Laurel Nokomis, Cranberry Elementary, and Lakewood Ranch Christian! These gardens give students a hands-on opportunity to grow food even when traditional raised beds aren’t practical.

So, what can you grow in a bucket? More than you might think! 👇
🍅 One plant per bucket: tomatoes, peppers, squash, zucchini, eggplant, broccoli, or cabbage�🥕 Several plants per bucket: bush beans, onions, lettuce, spinach, carrots, or radishes�🌿 Herbs: basil and other herbs can thrive in containers, too!
🦋 Even pollinator plants can thrive a bucket, bringing bees and butterflies to the garden.

A five-gallon bucket can become a miniature food-production system where students can plant, water, observe, troubleshoot, harvest—and eat what they grow. Talk about hands-on learning!

And there’s more coming! ☀️💧 Solar-powered irrigation is not far behind, adding another opportunity for students to explore sustainability and agricultural technology.

From food production to pollinator support, these little buckets are creating big opportunities for students to explore sustainability, the environment, and discover how plants grow.🥕🐝

What would you grow in a bucket? Tell us in the comments! 🌱👇

08/27/2026

🌱 What Should You Plant in Your Florida Garden Right Now?

If your summer garden is looking a little tired, August and early September are a great time to start planning for Florida’s fall growing season! 🌿 While the exact timing varies across the state, the transition toward cooler weather opens the door to a whole new round of crops.

🥬 Start thinking about:�• Beans�• Cucumbers�• Summer squash�• Southern peas�• Carrots�• Radishes�• Collards and other greens�• Broccoli and cabbage as temperatures begin to moderate�• Herbs such as basil, dill, cilantro, and parsley

🌱 In early September: Begin transitioning toward more cool-season crops, particularly in North and Central Florida. Starting some crops from seed indoors or in a protected space can give seedlings a head start before moving them into the garden.

🌻 Gardening tip: Don’t forget about pollinators! Keep flowering plants in your garden as long as possible to provide food for bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects.

Florida gardening is all about planting for the season—not just the calendar! Check your local growing conditions and choose varieties suited to your part of the state.

What are you planting for your fall garden? 🌱👇 Share your plans with us!

08/26/2026

🌱 What Is a Seed Bank—and Why Does It Matter? Think of a seed bank as a living library of plants. Seed banks collect, preserve, and share seeds to help protect plant diversity and ensure valuable varieties aren’t lost. They can play an important role in biodiversity, food security, sustainability, and the future of agriculture. For students, seed saving is also a hands-on way to explore where food comes from and why preserving agricultural resources matters. A single seed may be small, but it holds the potential for an entire future crop. 🌻 Green Jean Foundation is excited to collaborate with Growing Together, the nonprofit founded by Miss University of Florida 2026, Maralee Thompson, to encourage communities to learn more about seeds, growing food, and the importance of agricultural education. 🌱 Be on the lookout for Growing Together/Green Jean Foundation seed banks at your local Farm Bureau! They’re a great way to discover seeds, connect with other growers, and help preserve the plants that can feed our communities in the future. Save a seed. Share a seed. Grow something for the future. 🌱

08/24/2026

📱🌱 A day in the life of a Green Jean Foundation social media intern!

Follow along with Emily as she gives us a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to create content, tell agriculture’s story, and share the work happening at Green Jean Foundation. From capturing moments in the field to bringing them to your feed, there’s always something new to learn!

We’re so excited to have Emily on the team and love seeing her creativity in action! 💚

08/23/2026

Thank you to Dakin Natural soils for generously providing the Soil for our Green Jean School Garden builds throughout South West Florida.
Your support helps us provide students living classrooms where they can grow fresh food, learn about agriculture, and connect with one another. 🥕🌱
We’re grateful for partners who believe in the power of growing together. Thank you, Dakin Natural Soils, for helping us put down roots in our communities!

08/22/2026

🌱 Calling all ag teachers!

Back-to-school season comes with plenty of unique challenges, from classroom setup and lesson planning to livestock, labs, and everything in between.

We want to hear from you! 👩‍🌾📚

What’s one challenge you’re facing as you head into the new school year? Tell us in the comments below! ⬇️

Your feedback helps us better support the agriculture educators who are growing the next generation. 🌱

08/21/2026

🎙️🌱 This week on the podcast, we’re joined by Jeffrey and Michael Drew, founders of Gemstone Academy!
We’re talking about their journey in education, the importance of hands-on learning, and how creating meaningful opportunities for students can help prepare the next generation to lead, innovate, and make an impact.
Tune in to hear their story, their vision for education, and what they’re building at Gemstone Academy!
🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts!
https://youtu.be/LIaDcYyLE08