Our Story

A childhood, carefully tended.

The Garden began as one small classroom and has grown carefully into a community of campuses across North Carolina. Each Garden is shaped by its place, its children, and its teachers, but all share the same hope: to protect childhood, honor the pace of each child, and keep learning close to the natural world.

The Garden's founder with her two children
A note from the founder

A story that began at home.

When I founded The Garden, I was first a mother looking for something I could not quite find.

I wanted my own children to have a place where they could love learning, discover who they were, and be seen, known, and guided with care. I wanted them to feel safe, to spend their days close to nature, and to learn from the earth and all it provides. I wanted the best beginning I could imagine for them, and for me, that was Montessori.

The Garden grew from that wish. What began with five families has become a community of campuses, partnerships, and teacher training, all rooted in the same belief: children, teachers, and families grow best in a place shaped by patience, trust, and care.

We now serve more than a hundred families across North Carolina, but I work hard to make sure every family still finds what I built for my own many years ago.

Warmly,

Ms. Ellen
To ignite a lifelong love of learning by nurturing each child’s unique potential through a nature-inspired Montessori early childhood education.
Our Mission
Who We Are

What makes
The Garden special.

Small communities where children, families, and teachers learn and grow together.

  • A living lab school

    Children, teachers, and teacher-trainees learn side by side in real Montessori classrooms.

  • Distinct campus communities

    Each Garden campus has its own setting, age range, rhythm, and sense of place.

  • A flagship farm school

    Our Carthage campus is a unique opportunity for children to spend time with animals, learn where their food comes from, and to observe and study nature in the creek beds, woods, and gardens.

  • Educator pathways

    The Garden supports teachers through apprenticeship, mentorship, Montessori certification, and degree pathways.

Come See Us

Schedule a visit.

The best way to know if The Garden is right for your family is to walk through the gate — tour a campus, meet us, and see the children at work.