OUR STORY
"Our dream is to inspire kids everywhere to get their hands in the dirt."
Dirt Academy Kids was created by two families who live the life they teach — rooted in faith, hard work, and a love of growing food. Together, they wrote down decades of homegrown knowledge and had it hand-illustrated by a dear friend, so any parent can teach it with joy and without stress. You don't have to move to a farm. You don't have to know what you're doing yet. We'll help you make a plan, and we'll be right there all season on the live coaching calls.
meet the team
Brendon & Nina Shirley
Nina and Brendon are raising their family in South Florida — rooted in faith, curiosity, and respect for nature. Nina, a mother of two and garden educator, holds a degree in Agroecology and learned farming hands-on across Tennessee and Indiana. She founded The Dirt Academy in 2017 to build custom garden spaces and teach families how to grow food, inspiring many through the Design Network show Farm to Table.
Brendon comes from generations of gardeners — he once wooed Nina with packages of homegrown veggies and love notes in the mail — and spent 10 years playing piano for the band Tenth Avenue North. Now a Realtor and investor, he balances business and family by playing music at church and gardening at home with a toddler along for the ride.
meet the team
Luke & Liss Hammond
Liss and Luke live the life they teach. Liss, a lifelong homeschooler, grew up alongside plants and animals and earned both a Bachelor's and Master's in psychology. After years in counseling and child welfare, she returned to raising her own four children through homeschooling and managing daily farm work alongside Luke.
Luke began farming in 2011 after recognizing how vital it is for future generations to know how to grow food; converting to organic in 2015 changed everything about the way he farms. A man of many hats, he's now Director of Brand Advancement for Seedtime.us and hosts the How I Grow This podcast, helping others grow with confidence.
Together, both families created Dirt Academy Kids to give children practical skills, hands-on learning, and a meaningful connection to food, the earth, and the Lord.
what we believe
Growth is slow on purpose.
The best lessons can't be rushed — in a garden or a child.
Any parent can teach this.
Confidence comes from good tools, not a green thumb.
Real beats virtual.
Dirt under the fingernails is a childhood worth protecting.