Garden Operations Manager Spotlight: Maddie Kartoz
Maddie (they/she) has been our Garden Operations Manager for just over a year. Maddie supports our schoolyard gardens all year round to ensure they are thriving during growing seasons!
What originally inspired you to get involved in youth garden education?
My background is in outdoor education, farming, and the arts. I believe that every student should have access to educational experiences that connect them to food, the natural world, and each other.
What project or initiative within the garden education programs gives you the most pride when reflecting on its success?
I’m really proud of my work on the summer volunteer program. I approached it as an extension of our education programming and focused on giving volunteers opportunities to learn by donating their time. Many of our volunteers this summer had minimal gardening experience and were able to have access to a garden this summer where they could practice their skills and get support directly from the operations team. It felt great to know that we had expanded access to gardening not just for youth, but for the wider community.
How has working with youth changed your perspective on education or the environment?
Young people have a spirit about the natural world that is just a gift to be around. They’re fascinated by everything and take nothing for granted. I’ve come to see just how open ended and endlessly customizable outdoor education can be, and have deep appreciation for the social emotional skills it can give students.
How do you navigate challenges like space limitations or differing levels of school support for the garden initiatives?
In college, I had a professor who responded to challenges with this proverb: don’t let it get in the way, let it show you the way. If a space has limited sun, I focus on plants that can tolerate shade. If we can’t grow veggies, I’ll focus on flowers. Concrete and brick are opportunities for decoration, and limited support means there’s an opportunity to grow. This work can be challenging and frustrating, but there’s no minimum size or usage that makes it not worth it.
What’s one important skill you believe gardening teaches kids that they can use outside the garden?
How to ask questions and investigate the world around them!
How do you use storytelling or cultural connections to make gardening more meaningful for the students?
Right now Operations is working on a big sign overhaul, and we’re focusing on art, writing, and stories that can foster deeper connections for students in the garden.
How do you envision the future of youth garden education in urban schools, and what are your goals for its growth?
I would love to see a world where older students are given more legitimate opportunities to labor in the garden, and where garden education is a standardized part of public education.
If you could introduce one new tool or technology to enhance garden education, what would it be?
Drip irrigation! It’s already happening at many of our schools and is a complete game changer. With 24 only being used 1-2 days a week, our gardens are very dependent on rain. Dripline irrigation means that we don’t have to spend time watering all our sites by hand and can focus our energy elsewhere, and the garden will be vibrant even in a drought.
Who is Maddie outside of CitySprouts?
If you could switch lives with any character from a book, movie, or show for a day, who would it be?
Frodo after he has returned from his adventures and is just chilling in the Shire.
What’s your favorite place to explore in Boston/Cambridge?
I absolutely adore the Boston Harbor Islands, they’re super special to me.
What’s one item on your bucket list that you’re determined to check off soon?
I’m mulling a white mountain direttissima, but don’t know when I could pull it off.
Maddie’s Favorites
Favorite movie? - Everything, Everywhere, All At Once.
Favorite season? - Fall
Favorite board game or video game? - I really like Catan Cities and Knights, but it’s a beast.