Garden Educator Spotlight: Isabelle Custer
Isabelle (she/her) is the Garden Educator at Haggerty Elementary, Tobin Montessori School, Graham & Parks Elementary, Baldwin Early Learning Pilot Academy, and Haynes Early Education Center. This is Isabelle’s first year at CitySprouts! Find out more about Isabelle below.
What originally inspired you to get involved in youth garden education?
I love growing food and I love working with kids! In college I studied environmental justice/food systems and education, at first separately, but the combination quickly became obvious. School gardens are such important spaces that provide unique opportunities for students to engage with the world in new, joyful ways.
How has working with youth changed your perspective on education or the environment?
The way that youth interact with the environment is so special. Something as small as a ladybug can sometimes hold a child’s interest for an entire class in the garden. Kids find things that adults don’t often slow down enough to notice, like patterns, shapes, textures, and the smallest of changes in the garden. This curiosity and skill of noticing/focusing when interacting with nature is really inspiring to me, and I think a lot of adults could learn from it!
What’s one important skill you believe gardening teaches kids that they can use outside the garden?
Gentleness. The way we care for plants and creatures in the garden can translate into the way we think about caring for each other, and the wider world. Also, knowledge about where the food that we eat comes from, and knowledge about growing your own food, is empowering. And tasting new foods is an important skill!
If your life had a theme song, what would it be?
Dog Years by Maggie Rogers
What’s one item on your bucket list that you’re determined to check off soon?
I really want to experience tapping maple trees and making maple syrup. Maybe this winter will be the one!
Given the choice of anyone in the world, whom would you want as a dinner guest?
Ayo Edebiri (Sydney from The Bear) Or, to flip the question, I would want to be a dinner guest of Anthony Bourdain’s.
What would constitute a “perfect” day for you?
A long day at the beach at the height of summer, with a really good sandwich. Specifically at Great Rock Bight on Martha’s Vineyard, which also involves a short hike through the woods.