ABOUT US
MEET OUR FOUNDER
Hi, I’m Tatum!
My passion lies in empowering children through food system education and fostering a love for gardening. I come from a background in both early childhood education and agriculture. After earning my Master's degree in Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications from Texas A&M University in 2021, I spent several years working as a farm school teacher and outdoor curriculum coordinator in the Greater Austin area.
Through these experiences, I witnessed the incredible impact that gardening and outdoor play have on a child's development. From improving physical health and social-emotional learning skills to nurturing a connection with nature, the benefits were undeniable. However, I also saw programs struggle due to a lack of support and resources, leaving both teachers and students frustrated.
This is why I created Little Soil Stewards. My mission is to bridge that gap by providing schools with the tools and guidance they need to run successful, long-lasting and impactful garden programs. We offer a range of consulting services, from curriculum development to teacher training, to ensure these programs thrive. Additionally, I developed my own unique classes and curriculum to directly connect with children and get them excited about food cultivation.
My ultimate dream? To see these types of programs become the norm by the time my own children reach school age. Together, let's empower the next generation of responsible soil stewards who understand the importance of healthy food systems and environmental sustainability!
Why is soil so important?
sOIL IS THE BASIS OF LIFE ON earth.
Soil is a valuable resource which all life forms heavily depend on. Bacteria, microorganisms, fungi, plants and animals all require soil for food production. Soil filters and cleans our drinking water, and healthy soil absorbs rainwater to prevent flooding. Soil contains naturally occurring antibiotics that fight illnesses. Soil is the most biodiverse habitat on Earth, containing around 6 billion organisms in just one teaspoon. And most incredibly, soil has the ability to remove carbon from the atmosphere and store it via plant roots, actively reducing greenhouse gases.
We’re taught to conserve water and other natural resources while soil often gets overlooked as if it’ll “always be there”. This couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, Earth’s soils are currently being depleted at a rate faster than they’re being replaced due to industrial practices that do not prioritize soil health.
At Little Soil Stewards, we value and practice food cultivation methods that put soil health first, honoring its significance for our very existence. In teaching children to be stewards of the soil, we instill a greater appreciation for even the smallest life forms and the resources that sustain them.
OUR MISSION
Our mission here at Little Soil Stewards is to provide educational opportunities for the next generation to be involved in food cultivation and gardening in a way that promotes both personal health and environmental sustainability.
OUR VALUES
Soil Stewardship
Building the understanding that we’ve been entrusted with the responsibility of caring for our Earth’s soils
preservation of local ecosystems
Instilling the use of place-based learning through the integration of native species & planting schedules that reflect local climate
Food sovereignty
Equipping the next generation of producers and consumers with the skills needed to exercise their right to a sustainable supply of healthy, culturally appropriate food
DIGGING DEEPER
Encouraging a next level curiosity about food sourcing - thinking past just the grocery store aisles
WHOLE BODY NOURISHMENT
Reaping the physical and social emotional benefits of food cultivation, gardening, and eating a rainbow of seasonal foods
