Overview

I provide statewide leadership and coordination of an interdepartmental/ multidisciplinary garden-based learning extension program for children and youth educators. I also develop curriculum and educational resource materials, collaborate with other garden-based learning educators nation-wide, teach the Art of Horticulture, and supervise independent study focusing on art and garden-based learning.

Research Focus

I collaborate with human development researchers and program evaluation specialists to examine youth and adult interactions in garden settings, community and youth development skills and assets gained in garden-based learning, as well as to conduct formative and summative evaluations of our programming efforts.

Outreach and Extension Focus

I provide statewide leadership and coordination of an interdepartmental/ multidisciplinary garden-based learning extension program for children and youth educators. The Cornell Garden-Based Learning website houses detailed information about our program. http://www.hort.cornell.edu/gbl

Instruction Focus

I teach Hort 201: Art of Horticulture, an elective course in the Department of Horticulture, and provide opportunities for undergraduates to experience independent study in the context of garden-based learning.

Additional Links

• Art of Horticulture
• Garden-based learning
• Gardening resources
• Link to CALS Research portal
• Link to CALS Impact statements

Selected Publications

• Eames-Sheavly, Marcia. 2007. The Art of Horticulture: Student-Focused College Course Melds Science, Aesthetics, Plants, and Critical Reflection. Journal of the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators. 39(8): 7-13.
• Lekies, Kristi S., Marcia Eames-Sheavly, Leigh MacDonald, Kimberly J. Wong (2007). "Greener Voices: Strategies to Increase the Participation of Children and Youth in Gardening Activities. " Children, Youth and Environments 17(2): 517-526.
• Lekies, Kristi S and Marcia Eames-Sheavly. 2007. Fostering Children`s Interest in Gardening. Applied Environmental Education and Communication, 6(1): 67-75.
• Lekies, Kristi S., Marcia Eames-Sheavly, Kimberly J. Wong, and Anne Ceccarini. 2006. Children`s Garden Consultants: A New Model of Engaging Youth to Inform Garden Design and Programming. HortTechnology 16(1): 139-142.
• Lekies, Kristi S., Marcia Eames-Sheavly, and Kimberly J. Wong. 2006. Encouraging Youth Participation through "Children's Garden Consulting. " Journal of Extension 44(6).

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