I am 9 years old and determined to punt a ball *just right*. The game is kickball and I’m pretty darn good at it. Call me a ‘tomboy’ or an ‘overachiever’, just don’t call us in from recess.
Fast forward twenty years; I stand in the same spot but the bases are all gone. Yet, what’s left is just as magical. Where the pitcher would stand is bed #4 of 6 and you’ll find amaranth, lavender, and calendula rooted in the soil, an oasis wedged between grass and gravel.
Farmer Diana’s journey to Green our Planet
M.J. Christensen Elementary School is where I memorized the state capitals and sped through multiplication minute drills. It’s where I ran laps on the field for charity and begrudgingly celebrated Nevada Day instead of Halloween. The school is synonymous with “home”, and being M.J. Christensen’s Green Our Planet Farmer, I get to come “home” one day a week.
So, what’s it like to go back to the third grade? It’s dirty, exhausting, and the best thing you can ever imagine. The Fall brings curly kale, fragrant herbs, and pesky aphids that make me rub my arms. With Winter come peppery radishes, spicy arugula, and the chilling cold. Spring supplies me with flowers, buzzing bees, and encroaching Bermuda grass. Summer, the season that feels longest of all, shows me 5:30 am sunrises, cherry tomatoes and the hornworms camouflaged among the leaves.
As the seasons change, one thing remains constant: the wonder and curiosity of those who encounter the garden. Whether it’s a teacher puzzling over the health of a pomegranate tree or students astonished that I’m growing mustard in a bed, those moments fuel my purpose. So I’ll gladly dig around the base of stunted trees or explain that condiments are prepared foods and that I’m actually growing mustard GREENS. With each answered query, I hope to plant a seed. One which will take root and germinate; a tiny sprout feeding off of good intentions, love for Mother Nature, and pure, unadulterated joy. I am a gardener who aims to cultivate more than plants; would you care to do the same?
Empowering Farmpreneurs: The Fall 2023 Giant Student Farmers Market
Green Our Planet hosts two Giant Students’ Farmers Markets run by, you guessed it, students! It is in this modern day bazaar where the kiddos sell bundles of dried herbs, flowers in everything (i.e. bouquets, magnets, picture frames, etc.), old crayons molded into the shape of the Earth, and, of course, fresh fruits and vegetables. Once shy and reserved, the mini merchants find the courage to talk to adults, count change back, and find creative ways to ensnare those passersby who are trying their best to avoid eye contact. What better place could these tiny humans learn interpersonal skills along with financial literacy?!
Walking amongst the vendors, ready to swipe credit cards as needed, I am caught in the frenzy of the Market and absolutely overcome with delight. My inner 9-year-old aches to join the crowd, to do more than just kick a ball or recite state capitals. I would have loved to press flowers into bookmarks and invite buyers in with a smile and the promise of aromatic herbs. Yet, my work at Green Our Planet is helping to fuel a movement, and I know I am right where I belong.
These Farmers Markets have already impacted thousands of students across the Clark County School District in Nevada and the number grows with Green Our Planet’s reach over the rest of the country and world. By Earth Day 2026, we plan on having even more student “Farmpreneurs” show off their entrepreneurial skills when we reach our goal of 1,000 Giant Student Farmers Markets in rural areas, towns and cities across the country!
And YOU can help by investing your money and time into the little enterprisers who are selling more than just crafts and veggies; they are giving us hope for a greener future and mementos to hold onto lest we forget our purpose: to leave the Earth in better condition than we found it. We double dog dare you to join us on October 25th 10 am at Clark County Government Center Amphitheater!
