How to Grow Food in Your Classroom Without Outdoor Space (Yes, Really!)

If you're an educator who’s ever thought “I’d love to teach my students how to grow food, but we don’t have a school garden”, this blog is for you.

Because here's the truth:
You don't need a single square inch of outdoor space to run a thriving, meaningful garden-based education program.

Not only is indoor classroom gardening possible, it’s often the best place to start. In fact, trying to dive into outdoor gardening too soon is one of the most common reasons teachers give up on school gardening altogether.

Let’s break down the why, the how, and the what to watch out for so you can get started with confidence.

Why Starting Indoors Makes More Sense (Especially for Teachers)

There’s a common perception that gardening "doesn't count" unless it's outside. But ask any seasoned classroom gardening teacher, and they’ll tell you: indoor gardening is not a compromise — it’s a strategic choice.

Here’s why:

1. 🌱 You control the environment

No unexpected snowstorms. No squirrels digging up your seeds. No weekend watering emergencies. Indoors, you’re in charge.

2. 🧠 You stay in teaching mode

When gardening stays inside your classroom, you’re not switching mental gears between “teacher” and “garden manager.” The garden becomes a seamless part of your lessons, not a separate extracurricular.

3. 💡 You can teach all year

Even in a Canadian January, you can grow microgreens, sprout seeds, build sub-irrigated seedling trays, and more. Indoor gardening allows for continuous, hands-on learning, no matter the weather.

The Mistake That Makes Gardening Feel Hard

If you’ve tried indoor gardening before and it didn’t go well, you might be thinking, “Easy for you to say — I tried growing seedlings once and it was a disaster.”

Let me gently offer this:
You probably just didn’t have the right setup.

A common trap I see is teachers using materials that aren’t suited for the classroom environment — like brown egg cartons or thin paper cups. These dry out quickly, soak unevenly, and need constant monitoring. That’s a recipe for stress and failure.

And when you already have a million things on your plate, a classroom activity that demands hour-by-hour supervision isn’t going to last long.

What to do instead?

Use a sub-irrigated seedling starter — the kind I show in my guides. They’re:

• Inexpensive

• Classroom-tested

• Practically self-watering

• Almost impossible to overwater or underwater

The key isn’t working harder — it’s setting up smarter systems that do the heavy lifting for you.

So What Can You Grow Indoors?

You’d be amazed at what’s possible with just a sunny window and a bit of intention. Here are real examples of indoor gardening activities I’ve seen work beautifully in classrooms:

🌱 Spring Projects:

• Seed starting for plant sales, giveaways, or end-of-year gifts

• Mini salad gardens with lettuce, radish, and spinach in trays

• Herb jars on windowsills for sensory and culinary exploration

• Sprouting stations to observe germination in action

🍁 Fall & Winter Projects:

• Seed balls and seed paper for art, science, and ecology lessons

• Sprouting mung beans, lentils, and alfalfa in jars (super quick wins!)

• Microgreens trays that grow in just 7–10 days

• Soil experiments and compost-in-a-jar demonstrations

And the best part? Most of these projects require nothing more than:

• A sunny classroom window

• Dollar store containers

• A bit of soil, seeds, and curiosity

You don’t need grow lights unless your classroom has zero natural light (rare, but it happens). You don’t need hydroponics. You don’t need Tower Gardens or green walls.

What About Curriculum Integration?

One of the most exciting things about indoor classroom gardening is how naturally it fits into your existing lessons. You’re not adding something extra — you’re enriching what’s already there.

Here’s how gardening aligns across subjects:

And because your garden is right there in the classroom, you can weave these connections in day by day — not just during “garden time.”

But Will It Be Impressive?

This is an important question — and one I hear often.

Teachers worry that a few trays of seedlings on a windowsill won’t “wow” administrators or parents the way a big raised bed outside might.

But the impact of a classroom garden isn’t in its size. It’s in the learning. The excitement. The sense of ownership.

In my Oasis Classroom program, I’ve seen simple indoor gardens spark transformation — for both teachers and students. Kids take pride. They get curious. They eat healthier. They understand where food comes from. They learn patience, responsibility, and teamwork.

And all of it happens without ever stepping outside.

Your First Step (and How to Keep It Easy)

If you're intrigued but unsure where to begin, start here:

1. Take the free quiz: What Kind of Gardening Teacher Are You?
   You'll get a customized path based on your experience level and classroom setup.

2. Download the free guide: Indoor Gardening in Fall & Winter
   It's full of easy, ready-to-go ideas for hands-on classroom gardening activities — even in cold climates.

3. Commit to keeping it easy:
   If something feels complicated or overwhelming, that’s your cue to pause and simplify. Gardening doesn’t have to be hard. And I’m here to help you keep it that way.

Final Thought: Let Go of “It Has to Be Outdoors”

You don’t need a raised bed.
You don’t need a greenhouse.
You don’t even need permission from the custodian to go outside.

All you need is a sunny window, a few supplies, and the right mindset.

Start with ease. Start indoors. Start now.

Ready to go deeper?
🎧 Listen to Episode 55 of School Gardens with Ease for more real talk about indoor gardening, teacher overwhelm, and how to shift your mindset from “This is too hard” to “This is totally doable.”