The link you followed was in the El Salvador region, you are viewing this page in your region.

My Mini Growing Space is a small woodland or edible teaching garden that we help you create for your school, community group, or local organisation. It’s an accessible and empowering way to turn an underused outdoor space into a vibrant hub for learning, growing, and connecting.

Exciting News!
We’re thrilled to share that My Mini Growing Space has won the 2024 International Montessori Award for Community Learning Initiative of the Year from Montessori Global Education.
Here’s what the judges had to say:
“Growing Space emphasizes hands-on learning through gardening, mirroring Montessori’s focus on practical life skills and connecting with nature. It fosters family and community involvement through art projects and volunteering days, building a strong school community — a crucial element in Montessori education. The nomination alone highlights the project’s value to local communities. Growing Space exemplifies the essence of Montessori education, creating positive, inclusive environments that support well-being, nature connection, and community spirit.”

Read more here: https://montessori-globaleducation.org/awards-2024/

Get Started Today!
We’ll help you launch your own Mini Growing Space with a simple, step-by-step process, designed to make it easy, even for complete beginners! Our approach empowers children, adults and communities to get growing with confidence, creativity, and joy.

The 5-Step Process

  1. Site Audit & Visit
    A Growing Space expert will assess your outdoor space — in person or via a virtual tour.
  2. Design & Planning
    We’ll co-design a space that fits your vision, goals, and budget.
  3. Preparation & Materials
    You’ll get support sourcing plants, compost, timber, tools — everything you need.
  4. Build & Execute
    Guidance through the construction of your garden with expert support.
  5. Planting & Community Events
    Finalise your planting plan and receive ideas for future workshops and gatherings.

Who Can Apply?
This initiative is open to:

  • Small schools, churches, libraries, community centres, and local groups or
  • Anyone with access to a small, underused or neglected outdoor space
  • Groups passionate about nature, sustainability, education, or well-being
    Whether your goal is to grow fresh food, promote mental health, meet sustainability targets, or simply offer a meaningful outdoor experience: this project is for you.

What You’ll Receive (Upon Funding Approval)
Expert Support:

  • 1 Site visit (in person or virtual)
  • 3 One-on-one coaching sessions with a Growing Space expert
  • Weekly Q&A access or direct email/text support for 8 weeks
    Digital Toolkit:
    A customised, comprehensive resource covering:
  • Basic gardening and horticulture skills
  • Curriculum-linked activities (if needed)
  • Sustainability and seasonal gardening tips
  • Event planning for family and community days
  • Group management and behaviour guidance in outdoor settings
  • Year-round garden care advice
    And much more!

We’re here to help you create a green space that inspires learning, connection, and growth — and we’ll support you every step of the way.

My Mini Growing Space is a small woodland or edible teaching garden that we help you create for your school, community group, or local organisation. It’s an accessible and empowering way to turn an underused outdoor space into a vibrant hub for learning, growing, and connecting.

Exciting News!
We’re thrilled to share that My Mini Growing Space has won the 2024 International Montessori Award for Community Learning Initiative of the Year from Montessori Global Education.
Here’s what the judges had to say:
“Growing Space emphasizes hands-on learning through gardening, mirroring Montessori’s focus on practical life skills and connecting with nature. It fosters family and community involvement through art projects and volunteering days, building a strong school community — a crucial element in Montessori education. The nomination alone highlights the project’s value to local communities. Growing Space exemplifies the essence of Montessori education, creating positive, inclusive environments that support well-being, nature connection, and community spirit.”

Read more here: https://montessori-globaleducation.org/awards-2024/

Get Started Today!
We’ll help you launch your own Mini Growing Space with a simple, step-by-step process, designed to make it easy, even for complete beginners! Our approach empowers children, adults and communities to get growing with confidence, creativity, and joy.

The 5-Step Process

  1. Site Audit & Visit
    A Growing Space expert will assess your outdoor space — in person or via a virtual tour.
  2. Design & Planning
    We’ll co-design a space that fits your vision, goals, and budget.
  3. Preparation & Materials
    You’ll get support sourcing plants, compost, timber, tools — everything you need.
  4. Build & Execute
    Guidance through the construction of your garden with expert support.
  5. Planting & Community Events
    Finalise your planting plan and receive ideas for future workshops and gatherings.

Who Can Apply?
This initiative is open to:

  • Small schools, churches, libraries, community centres, and local groups or
  • Anyone with access to a small, underused or neglected outdoor space
  • Groups passionate about nature, sustainability, education, or well-being
    Whether your goal is to grow fresh food, promote mental health, meet sustainability targets, or simply offer a meaningful outdoor experience: this project is for you.

What You’ll Receive (Upon Funding Approval)
Expert Support:

  • 1 Site visit (in person or virtual)
  • 3 One-on-one coaching sessions with a Growing Space expert
  • Weekly Q&A access or direct email/text support for 8 weeks
    Digital Toolkit:
    A customised, comprehensive resource covering:
  • Basic gardening and horticulture skills
  • Curriculum-linked activities (if needed)
  • Sustainability and seasonal gardening tips
  • Event planning for family and community days
  • Group management and behaviour guidance in outdoor settings
  • Year-round garden care advice
    And much more!

We’re here to help you create a green space that inspires learning, connection, and growth — and we’ll support you every step of the way.

Candace Queathem
Candace Queathem

Hello!

It's time to share what we've been up to at Coleherne Court. In March and April we designed the garden and purchased all of the plants we would need for the summer. We also planned a garden party for June to involve the estate community in enjoying the new space together. On the west side of the garden plot, we extended the flower bed by removing some sod and planted new lavender, peonies, and a small border collection. The kids were often the best helpers with weeding and watering.

We involved many neighbors in the east side of the garden where we planted an entirely new herb garden. Our team especially stepped up when we were out of town for two weeks in April and again in May. Temperatures were high and we needed a lot of help keeping the garden cool and moist. We are now enjoying fresh herbs, strawberries, Fennel, beans, snacking peppers, and are eagerly awaiting the cuttings of our iceberg, romaine and spinach.

The garden party went quite well and we feel that it was a huge step forward in building community at Coleherne Court. Big highlights were the strawberries and cream we served outside our garden door and the ping pong tournament between young and old framed by our beautiful roses and geraniums. The garden committee was grateful for our help and we topped the salads with sage and chive flowers from the garden. We also used mint, rosemary and thyme from the garden in our preparation of recent summer dishes. The kids are loving cultivating and learning about our small garden and their friends now know how to lift up the bottom leaves to find strawberries.

Our last efforts for this project will be to prepare for our autumn beds as most of the flowers we chose are summer plants and our beds will be quite bare once everything dies back.

One last thing to report is that our new gardening skills came in handy for a service project with the RBKC Councillor who we helped revitalize long ridge road by planting some donated plants for residents who are dealing with crime and poverty.

Thank you for this awesome opportunity!

-Candace, Estee, Drew, Carsen, Jenna and Spencer

Pascale Rochefeuille
Pascale Rochefeuille

Hello!

It's time to share what we've been up to at Coleherne Court. In March and April we designed the garden and purchased all of the plants we would need for the summer. We also planned a garden party for June to involve the estate community in enjoying the new space together. On the west side of the garden plot, we extended the flower bed by removing some sod and planted new lavender, peonies, and a small border collection. The kids were often the best helpers with weeding and watering.

We involved many neighbors in the east side of the garden where we planted an entirely new herb garden. Our team especially stepped up when we were out of town for two weeks in April and again in May. Temperatures were high and we needed a lot of help keeping the garden cool and moist. We are now enjoying fresh herbs, strawberries, Fennel, beans, snacking peppers, and are eagerly awaiting the cuttings of our iceberg, romaine and spinach.

The garden party went quite well and we feel that it was a huge step forward in building community at Coleherne Court. Big highlights were the strawberries and cream we served outside our garden door and the ping pong tournament between young and old framed by our beautiful roses and geraniums. The garden committee was grateful for our help and we topped the salads with sage and chive flowers from the garden. We also used mint, rosemary and thyme from the garden in our preparation of recent summer dishes. The kids are loving cultivating and learning about our small garden and their friends now know how to lift up the bottom leaves to find strawberries.

Our last efforts for this project will be to prepare for our autumn beds as most of the flowers we chose are summer plants and our beds will be quite bare once everything dies back.

One last thing to report is that our new gardening skills came in handy for a service project with the RBKC Councillor who we helped revitalize long ridge road by planting some donated plants for residents who are dealing with crime and poverty.

Thank you for this awesome opportunity!

-Candace, Estee, Drew, Carsen, Jenna and Spencer

Pascale Rochefeuille
Pascale Rochefeuille

All photos & Impact posted on Queathem page :)

Pascale Rochefeuille
Pascale Rochefeuille

Well done for completing the survey, please repost a couple of pictures usignthe above "share your impact" . I can see the impact posted on your wall which looks fantastic. One more step to go to complete the process well done for all your hard work!

Candace Queathem
Candace Queathem

More update pictures

Candace Queathem
Candace Queathem

Hello!

It's time to share what we've been up to at Coleherne Court. In March and April we designed the garden and purchased all of the plants we would need for the summer. We also planned a garden party for June to involve the estate community in enjoying the new space together. On the west side of the garden plot, we extended the flower bed by removing some sod and planted new lavender, peonies, and a small border collection. The kids were often the best helpers with weeding and watering.

We involved many neighbors in the east side of the garden where we planted an entirely new herb garden. Our team especially stepped up when we were out of town for two weeks in April and again in May. Temperatures were high and we needed a lot of help keeping the garden cool and moist. We are now enjoying fresh herbs, strawberries, Fennel, beans, snacking peppers, and are eagerly awaiting the cuttings of our iceberg, romaine and spinach.

The garden party went quite well and we feel that it was a huge step forward in building community at Coleherne Court. Big highlights were the strawberries and cream we served outside our garden door and the ping pong tournament between young and old framed by our beautiful roses and geraniums. The garden committee was grateful for our help and we topped the salads with sage and chive flowers from the garden. We also used mint, rosemary and thyme from the garden in our preparation of recent summer dishes. The kids are loving cultivating and learning about our small garden and their friends now know how to lift up the bottom leaves to find strawberries.

Our last efforts for this project will be to prepare for our autumn beds as most of the flowers we chose are summer plants and our beds will be quite bare once everything dies back.

One last thing to report is that our new gardening skills came in handy for a service project with the RBKC Councillor who we helped revitalize long ridge road by planting some donated plants for residents who are dealing with crime and poverty.

Thank you for this awesome opportunity!

-Candace, Estee, Drew, Carsen, Jenna and Spencer

Pascale Rochefeuille
Pascale Rochefeuille

Great Strat on your project!! Site visit being completed and some of the plants already purchased, you are well on your way to complete your project soon! Well done! Do add some pictures of your progress here so we can see what you have been up to!!

Candace Queathem
Candace Queathem

Our first meeting- The Beyers weren't able to join because they are on a trip to the United States but I'll try to catch them this next week. We only included the big kids because it was later in the evening!

Pascale Rochefeuille
Pascale Rochefeuille

Congratulations!! Do send a picture of your team and let's get started on your garden!!
Looking forward to it!

Candace Queathem
Candace Queathem

Queathem Growing Space Action Plan



Timeline: We have already taken “before pictures” of the existing garden and are currently asking horticulture specialists what plants already exist in the flower beds so that we can preserve the healthy useful plants. We will begin pruning, preparing the flower beds, and mapping out the plans for the space with a landscaper/gardener in late February. From there, we will begin purchasing new plants and potting/planting in early March. The summer months will mostly involve cultivating and upkeep of the flowering plants. We will meet to weed and prune every week on a weeknight. May/June will be the flowering period so we will take some shareable pictures and have a garden party. In October we will decide what to cut back and winterize.



Budget: I anticipate spending most of the funding on mature plants for the garden. We will also need to extend a flower bed which will require some help with cutting back sod and removing some very deep rooted shrubs, a few hours-worth of paid garden work for someone with heavy duty tools. I hope to procure a raised wooden bed for an herb and lettuce garden that can be covered for the kids to maintain themselves. 



Impact: We intend for at least 3 families to be actively engaged in this project with their children. Children in London benefit from being able to have tactile engagement with nature, even if nature is a small plot in a city garden. The children will socialize and have stress relief from being outside and together. We will also be able to bond with our families as we plan and carry out a project from start to finish gaining confidence through its fulfilment. As parents, we hope to instill our love for horticulture in our children and not let it be lost generationally due to expat and city life. 



Location: The project will be carries out on a private plot at Coleherne Court where we have express permission and are actually required as tenants to maintain the green space for neighbors to enjoy. 

Additional questions


  • Age group of those involved in the project:

    • Candace (35) and Eric Queathem (36)- Riley (7), Avery (5.5), Jesse (2.5) 

    • Jenna and Carsen Beyer (mid 30’s)- Rosie (4), Brooks (2)

    • Drew and Spencer Wilcox (mid 30’s)- Zoe (9), Savannah (5), Sequoia (3) Bear (1.5)



  • Number of children/adults the project will benefit:

    • 6 adults, 9 children



  • Future activities

    • We would love to have bug house making workshops, nature school, cooking from the herb garden, and neighbor socials in conjunction with the garden.



  • Material/trees: what trees/structure(s) or features do you already have in site? (if none, just answer 'none'):

    • Roses, ivy, daffodil bulbs, tulip, some shrubs. We would like to have help identifying what is already here. 



  • Does your site have water access?

    • Yes. A hose.



  • Do you want to install a water butt (not obligatory) 

    • No need.



  • Please confirm in one sentence that you have permission from a manager or landlord (of the building or head of a school  (as necessary) saying that they are happy to make the improvement of their outdoor space and let you lead the project

    • Yes. We are required to sustain the outdoor space. 



  • What is the exact measurement/size of the proposed space for your My Mini Growing Space?

    • I need help measuring the potential space with a garden planner, especially if we are going to extend flower beds. 



  • Please upload a few pictures of the site and from different angles (ideally 1 in the morning and 1 in the afternoon, when the sun is out)"

 

 

 


  • What time of the day does the space get the most sun and for how long?

    • It is south facing so it gets sun all day.



  • If you have the plans, a sketch, or a rough drawing of the space you intend to use, please upload it as part of your Action Plan

That’s all for now! 

We are excited to get you started!

 

Spencer Wilcox liittyi Queathem Growing Space tähän My Mini Growing Space ryhmä yli 2 vuotta sitten
Drew Larson liittyi Queathem Growing Space tähän My Mini Growing Space ryhmä yli 2 vuotta sitten
Jenna Beyer liittyi Queathem Growing Space tähän My Mini Growing Space ryhmä yli 2 vuotta sitten
Eric Queathem liittyi Queathem Growing Space tähän My Mini Growing Space ryhmä yli 2 vuotta sitten
Candace Queathem liittyi Queathem Growing Space tähän My Mini Growing Space ryhmä yli 2 vuotta sitten

Tietoa Queathem Growing Space

Tulevat tapahtumat

Ei tulevia tapahtumia

Kuka on mukana

Candace Queathem
Candace Queathem
Yhteyshenkilö

Tiimi & Jäsenet (5)

×