OPEN SINCE OCTOBER 2015
Mama Ida’s Teaching Garden.
Seasonal educational programs for all ages, right here at The Shed.
ABOUT THE GARDEN
Growing food. Growing community.
Mama Ida’s Teaching Garden is situated directly east of The Shed. Opened in October 2015, it’s a living classroom that showcases the best of North Texas growing — from spring peas and summer tomatoes to fall squash and cool-weather greens.
The garden was designed to offer custom educational programs, seasonally, for people of all ages. Whether you’re a schoolchild visiting on a field trip or an adult curious about where your food comes from, the garden is here to make that connection tangible.
It operates in partnership with the North Texas Food Bank, with students and adults maintaining the space year-round through regular volunteer days.
IN HER HONOR
Meet Mama Ida.
The garden is named for Ida Papert, a legendary Dallas Farmers Market supporter who began shopping here in 1953 — and never really stopped.
Ida founded the Dallas Farmers Market Friends in 1991, championing the market as a community institution long before farm-to-table was a phrase anyone used. She was known for carrying a personalized bag that read “Ida’s Gotta Have It,” which she filled with produce each visit. She turned market purchases into preserves, cooking classes, and organizations that connected Dallasites to real food.
Naming the garden after her isn’t just a tribute — it’s a commitment to the same belief she held: that knowing where your food comes from changes how you eat, cook, and live.
“The garden is here to make that connection tangible.”
SEASONAL PRODUCE
What grows here.
The Teaching Garden grows what North Texas grows — cool-season crops in fall and spring, heat-tolerant varieties through the summer. Everything in the beds reflects what you’ll find at The Shed that same week.
Spring
English & Sugar Snap Peas
Spring
Lettuces & Salad Greens
Summer
Heirloom Tomatoes
Summer
Peppers & Okra
Fall
Winter Squash & Gourds
Fall
Sweet Potatoes & Root Vegetables
Year-Round
Herbs & Edible Flowers
Year-Round
Cover Crops & Compost Demo
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
Custom programs for every age.
The Teaching Garden is designed to flex around whoever’s visiting. Programs are customized seasonally based on what’s growing and who’s learning.
School Field Trips
Curriculum-aligned programs for K–12 groups covering plant biology, soil health, and where food comes from. Hands-on time in the beds is included — connect with DFM to schedule a visit.
Adult & Family Programs
Seasonal workshops for adults and families — learning to grow tomatoes, understanding compost, and connecting what’s in the garden to what’s on The Shed tables that same weekend.
North Texas Food Bank Partners
The garden operates in partnership with the North Texas Food Bank, which coordinates volunteer days and helps connect the garden’s harvest and programs to the wider community.
Seasonal Planting Demos
Open demonstrations during The Shed’s weekend market hours — see what’s going in, what’s coming out, and ask the garden team about growing your own in North Texas soil.
GET INVOLVED
Come help things grow.
The Teaching Garden runs on volunteers. Students and adults maintain the space year-round — planting, harvesting, composting, and helping with educational programs.
Volunteer opportunities are coordinated through the North Texas Food Bank. Whether you’re an individual, a school group, or a company looking for a community service day, the garden welcomes all hands.
2015
Garden Opened
All Ages
Programs Designed For
Year-Round
Volunteer Opportunities
COMMON QUESTIONS
About the garden.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
Downtown
Dallas Inc.
DFM
Friends
