Children learn where their food comes from, how plants grow, and how their own care and patience can bring something to life
It all began with a simple idea 10 years ago – give children the chance to plant a seed, watch it grow, and discover that they, too, can shape the world around them. Today, that small beginning has blossomed into a nationwide movement touching hundreds of thousands of young lives in classrooms and communities across Canada.
A visionary seed
On July 1, 2015, Plant a Seed & See What Grows Foundation® (PAS Foundation) became a federally registered charity, turning one man’s childhood experience into a living vision. PAS is rooted in the belief that children are our future, and just as one seed can transform a landscape, so too one child can help change the world. Thus, PAS Foundation set out to create meaningful ways for young people to be inspired and experience the wonder of nature – and learn to change their world.
Over the past decade, our mission has grown into a rich tapestry of programs in classrooms, libraries, daycares, gardens, farms, and homes across the country.
Growing a classroom movement
At the heart of this movement are three core educational programs inspired by two storybooks, authored by Roland Gahler, Plant a Seed & See What Grows and What to Do with What You Grew.
These educational programs turn stories into action as children read, reflect, plant, and nurture living things.
The scale of this impact is remarkable. PAS Foundation’s programs have reached more than 600,000 children in every corner of Canada, in over 8,500 schools, public libraries, and daycare centres. More than 500,000 storybooks, workbooks, and colouring books, along with over 81,000 seed packets, have been distributed free of charge, giving every child a tangible way to participate in the learning journey.
Hands in the dirt… Hearts at work
Plant a Seed & See What Grows Foundation’s programs are powered by one simple insight: children learn best when they can touch, see, smell, and experience the world for themselves. Through these programs, students plant seeds, track growth in their workbooks, and integrate what they see in the soil with what they learn in science, math, and language arts. Teachers praise these materials as engaging, curriculum-aligned, and especially valuable for diverse and bilingual classrooms.
As observed by Roland Gahler, PAS Foundation’s primary benefactor, “…each planted seed becomes a quiet lesson in hope and inspiration, and even small actions, done with care, can grow into something extraordinary… even visionary.”
“Hands in the dirt” is more than a phrase – it is the heart of the experience. Children learn where their food comes from, how plants grow, and how their own care and patience can bring something to life. In the process, they build not only knowledge but confidence, curiosity, and a sense of responsibility for the Earth and their communities.”
Gardens that change lives
Beyond the classroom, PAS Foundation’s garden-granting program – Create a Garden: Inspire a Generation – has transformed bare patches of ground into vibrant hubs of learning and connection. Funding has been provided to over 70 schools and community gardens, each one a living classroom where children plant, nurture, and harvest their own food. These gardens become places where students learn about nutrition, sustainability, teamwork, compassion, and problem-solving, all while experiencing the joy of tasting what they have grown themselves.
For example, a garden grant to The Berry Family Childcare Centre and Dorothy Lynas Elementary School helped create a community garden that unites elders, families, and children in shared work and shared wonder. Children explore soil, seeds, and biodiversity, harvest peas and lettuce, join the Garden Guardians program, and participate in events like Garden Open Days that build pride and a sense of belonging. As noted by Betsy Puff, PAS Foundation’s garden program coordinator, “…the garden becomes more than a learning space – it becomes a place where they feel seen, capable, and connected.”
Learning beyond the classroom walls
Our Outdoor Learning Experiences program takes children out to farms and other natural spaces, turning fields and barnyards into classrooms.
A single farm visit can be transformative for a child who has never stood in a vegetable field or held rich soil in their hands. It takes them through the seed-to-table journey, weaving science, health, and excitement into one unforgettable day.
Kids’ Corner – A safe place to explore and learn
At the same time, the Foundation’s Kids Corner online hub keeps younger children engaged with nature from their homes and classrooms. The video series, such as Become an Explorer and Inquiring Minds, Inspiring Finds, introduces kids to birds, whales, bees, bugs, and plants, as well as provides inspiration from young changemakers around the world, pairing inspiring stories with interactive activities and creative drawing lessons like Drawing with Brady. There are over 88 inspiring digital resources that help ensure that even when children cannot be in a garden or on a farm, they can still explore and dream.
Inspiring future changemakers
What about older students? Through education bursaries, we assist undergraduates in botanical, agricultural, and health sciences to pursue their studies. These future changemakers will shape more sustainable food systems, work to address food insecurity, and rethink how food is grown and shared with the goal of building healthier communities.
Beyond the numbers
Each of the above statistics represents a child whose curiosity has been sparked, a teacher who feels more supported, a family that has grown closer over a shared garden bed, or a community that has found new reasons to gather, learn, and care for one another. PAS Foundation has become a trusted partner to educators whose budgets are stretched thin, providing free resources and free shipping so that learning opportunities do not depend on
a teacher’s personal finances.
Help something beautiful grow
Guided by a committed board, a small but dedicated team, and a growing network of supporters and volunteers, the PAS Foundation is ready for the next chapter of growth, gratitude, and inspiration. At the heart of this future lies a powerful belief: what we plant today in hearts, minds, and soil will shape the world our children inherit tomorrow.
Your support of the PAS Foundation is not just about giving; it is about investing in children’s curiosity, teachers’ resilience, and communities’ capacity to grow together.
Every gift helps place storybooks, workbooks, and seed packets into classrooms; funds new school gardens; supports bursaries for emerging leaders; and brings more children to farms and outdoor learning spaces.
Plant a Seed & See What Grows Foundation warmly invites you to stand alongside the educators, families, donors, and volunteers who have brought this dream to life. Together, with one seed and one child at a time, we can grow a greener, kinder, and more hopeful world.
Join the movement! Become a Friend of the Foundation
There are many ways to get involved.
- Become a Friend of the Foundation
- Make a donation that helps bring educational resources to a school or library near you
Each action – each seed of generosity – helps ensure that more children will have the chance to plant, grow, and discover their own power to make a difference.
Our Beautiful Green Earth – A Jewel in the Universe
Roland Gahler’s third children’s book, Our Beautiful Green Earth – A Jewel in the Universe, has just been released. It is now available to Canadian schools in English and French at no charge.
This beautifully illustrated, four-colour storybook introduces children to the wonders of planet Earth, and how it is embedded in the awe-inspiring universe of galaxies.
To learn more, schools, public libraries, and daycares can visit seewhatgrows.org
