Little Green Thumbs is thrilled to announce Tamarah Willis as a recipient of the Inaugural Little Green Thumbs National Teacher Award.
We would also like to thank our core sponsor Nutrien. Without their support, this award would never happen!
This new national award recognizes an educator who exemplifies the values of Little Green Thumbs through outstanding leadership in garden-based learning, food literacy, environmental stewardship, and student engagement. Selected from nominations across the country, Tamarah stood out for her ability to transform learning into meaningful, hands-on experiences that inspire students to connect with food, nature, and one another.
Since joining Little Green Thumbs in 2022, Tamarah has embraced the program with enthusiasm and creativity, making her indoor garden an integral part of the learning experience. Her classroom is more than a place where students grow plants—it is a living laboratory where science, sustainability, health, and environmental awareness come together.
The nomination submitted by Tamarah’s students paints a picture of an educator who goes above and beyond to make learning engaging, relevant, and memorable.
“She has an engaging teaching style that enthusiastically implements the garden into our education, and she pushes us to exceed expectations,” wrote students Eloise McDonald and Sydney Stringfellow. “She makes sure that we understand the concept she is teaching and always makes sure we feel comfortable in whatever subject she is teaching.”
Through demonstrations, field trips, nature walks, and hands-on gardening activities, Tamarah helps students develop practical agricultural skills while fostering a deeper understanding of healthy eating, sustainability, and environmental responsibility.
Her impact is perhaps best expressed through the words of her students:
“She taught me how plants work and how to care for them. She also taught me how to take care of the garden and ecosystem and I now love nature.” — Yahya
“She taught me how to grow plants and also how plants affect our bodies and how growing plants ourselves is better than getting store bought because store bought might have chemicals.” — Jasmine
“She made me see new things to do and she got me back into my old hobby of gardening and back into my love of plants. Now when I go on nature walks I feel connected to nature and to the way it was before humans colonized.” — Declan
One of the many stories highlighted in the nomination was a memorable “Salad Day,” where students harvested produce they had grown themselves and learned about scientific concepts along the way.
Before preparing the salad, Tamarah demonstrated how to make salad dressing while teaching students about density by layering ingredients in a jar. Students then harvested vegetables from their garden, combined them into a fresh salad, and enjoyed the fruits of their labour together.
Another favourite memory involved a nature walk where students participated in an animal-themed ecosystem game, helping them understand the relationships between living things while exploring the natural world around them.
Colleague Patricia Arce describes Tamarah’s classroom as a model of integrated agricultural education.
“Tamarah doesn’t just have a garden in her room; she has a living laboratory that serves as the heartbeat of her pedagogy,” she wrote. “She possesses a rare talent for weaving complex scientific concepts into the tactile experience of growing food.”
Arce also praised Tamarah’s ability to cultivate a meaningful connection between students and nature.
“She is truly planting the seeds of success for the next generation of environmental leaders.”
For Claudia Bolli, Regional Coordinator with Sustainable Food Edmonton’s Little Green Thumbs program, Tamarah’s recognition comes as no surprise.
“The award nomination submitted by Tamarah’s students and colleague underscore her commitment to Little Green Thumbs’ goal of food literacy and environmentally engaged learning,” said Bolli. “It has been rewarding to witness her enjoyment of teaching with the indoor garden over the past four years. Tamarah is most deserving of the National Teacher Award.”
The Little Green Thumbs National Teacher Award celebrates educators who empower students to learn through curiosity, discovery, and connection to the natural world. Tamarah Willis embodies these values every day, creating opportunities for students to grow not only plants, but also confidence, knowledge, and a lifelong appreciation for the environment.
Congratulations, Tamarah, on becoming the inaugural recipient of the Little Green Thumbs National Teacher Award. Your passion, innovation, and dedication are inspiring students today and cultivating a more sustainable future for tomorrow.