Farm to Table Kids: Betting on Yourself, Following Nature, and Rebuilding Again

Stephanie McDonough’s journey is a powerful reminder that farm education isn’t tied to one piece of land — it’s rooted in purpose, persistence, and heart. From childhood days in her grandfather’s flower garden to building thriving farm camps and school partnerships, Steph’s path has been anything but linear.

In this episode, Steph shares the deeply personal story behind Farm to Table Kids — including land loss, reinvention, and why she believes nature always shows us the next step, if we’re willing to listen.

You’ll hear:
🌸 How gardening with her grandfather shaped her lifelong connection to nature
🏀 Why she left a successful business career (including the NBA) to follow a deeper calling
🌱 How a simple moms’ garden class in her backyard unexpectedly turned into a movement
🍅 What restaurant gardens taught her about community, scale, and teaching kids through food
😥 How her son's stage 4 cancer diagnosis changed everything - and why staying close to her kids shaped her next business decisions
💔 The heartbreaking moment she lost her farm lease — and how she found the courage to start again
🌻 How she rebuilt Farm to Table Kids at new locations, including a Waldorf school campus and a partner farm
🏕️ The behind-the-scenes story of launching a summer farm camp during one of the hardest seasons of her life
🏫 How schools and organizations found her through social media — and what makes partnerships thrive
📋 Why she shifted from nonprofit to LLC, and how that decision helped her stay nimble
🌿 Her honest advice for educators navigating burnout, uncertainty, or major life transitions

This conversation is full of grit, grace, and reassurance that starting where you are — even in a backyard — can lead to something lasting.

Learn more about Steph & Farm to Table Kids
🌐 https://www.farmtotablekids.org
📸 Instagram: Farm to Table Kids
🌼 Personal account: Farmer Steph

The Farm Educator’s Roadmap
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🤝 Private Facebook Group: The Farm Educator’s Roadmap Community