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Our mission is to inspire children to love and care for our planet by creating an accessible and inclusive outdoor space where children can learn, play, and connect with nature.
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In the Portland Children’s Garden, children will have the opportunity to play in the soil, encounter native plants, engage with various ecosystems, and practice sustainable growing methods. The garden will be an inspiring, safe, and nurturing setting in which to explore and engage with the natural world.
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Portland Children’s Garden plans to offer seasonal programming including garden exploration for children with their caregivers, after school workshops, story times, and many other garden projects rooted in nature!
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The Portland Children’s Garden will feature a mix of play features and garden features. Play features may include a well-stocked mud kitchen, a lookout tower where explorers can perch to create imaginary worlds, and a magical fairy garden. Garden features may include a dwarf fruit tree orchard, vegetable beds for children to tend, and a native plant habitat designed to provide wildlife food, water, and shelter in the urban fabric.
ABOUT US
Hello! We are Beth and Amanda, friends and neighbors who live in the Sellwood neighborhood. When we met each other in 2023, we discovered that we have similar dreams: Beth wants to create a garden for kids, and Amanda wants to cultivate food forests throughout Portland. We were excited when a property in our neighborhood became available in 2024; in 2025, the Portland Children’s Garden became a project of the Oregon Sustainable Agriculture Land Trust (OSALT).
We hope you’ll join us as we build a beautiful new garden for Portland!
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Beth is a passionate science and art educator with a Master's degree in Elementary Education and a wealth of experience teaching diverse student groups in outdoor settings. She has facilitated joyful, hands-on learning experiences that connect youth with nature at the Chicago Botanic Garden (Glencoe, Illinois), CuriOdyssey (San Mateo, California), and the Delray Beach Children’s Garden (Delray Beach, Florida). Beth served as chairperson of the Cocoplum Nature School Board of Directors before moving to Portland in 2023. When she’s not working on the Portland Children’s Garden, Beth leads the Portland Nature Journal Club on new adventures and guides field trips at Tryon Creek State Natural Area. Beth firmly believes that all children should have access to rich learning experiences that inspire a deep connection with the natural world.
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Amanda is a longtime Portland resident and a passionate advocate for food forests and regenerative land stewardship. With a Master’s degree in Counseling and a focus on grief, Amanda helps individuals encounter change and cultivate resilience. She is a licensed therapist in Oregon and Washington and an active member of the Climate Psychology Alliance of North America. Amanda believes that true resilience stems from fostering a deep sense of belonging— and that by remembering our interconnectedness with the rest of the natural world, communities not only heal themselves but also cultivate relationship with the ecosystems they depend on. Her work seeks to restore a sense of belonging that is vital for weathering the challenges of climate, ecological, and social change.
OSALT
Portland Children’s Garden is proud to partner with the Oregon Sustainable Agriculture Land Trust (OSALT), a 501(c)(3) conservation land trust dedicated to regenerative farming and urban gardening access, research, and education.
OSALT’s fiscal sponsorship enables Portland Children’s Garden to accept tax-deductible donations, apply for grants, and connect with garden and permaculture experts in OSALT’s network. With the support of OSALT, the garden site will transform into an abundant space where kids can thrive.
Portland Children’s Garden Non-Discrimination Statement
The Portland Children’s Garden is committed to a policy of non-discrimination and equal opportunity in all of its services, programs, and operations. Our policy prohibits discrimination and harassment against any person based on their race, color, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, age, religion or creed, marital status, veteran or military status, socioeconomic background or economic status, and any other protected category.
Further, we are committed to providing a safe, affirming, and welcoming environment for everyone in our community and for visitors to the garden, as we cultivate a climate of appreciation and respect for all beings.
This policy applies to all aspects of the garden, including but not limited to events, volunteer opportunities, interactions between visitors and staff, access to the garden and its resources, and programming.
“To know your neighbors, whether they are people or plants, animals, soil and sun, is to also know yourself.”
-Katie Finch, nature educator