Megan Gruner

Hello, my name is Megan Gruner. I’m an educator, artist, and lifelong gardener who believes in the power of hands-on learning to heal, inspire, and transform.

My journey began with a degree in International Development from the University of Guelph. Through this program, I had the opportunity to live, work, and study in Colombia where  I attended the University of Caldas. Through my studies I was given the opportunity to move into a small coffee farming community and work with the local school where I started a children’s art program for the local children.  During my time in Colombia, I was first introduced to  traditional hand-building ceramic classes—an experience that sparked a lifelong love of working with clay.

Fast forward a few years,  I completed a university degree at the Unive rsity of Guelph, traveled the world, started a gardening business, had a family and moved to a small hobby farm near Georgian Bay.  During this time I  became  a certified Waldorf teacher and taught grades 1–8  at Edgehill Country School in Durham and later Trillium Waldorf School.  Throughout my time as a class teacher  I served as both the Pedagogical Chair  and Faculty Chair.   I was also a member of the  Educational Support team  which works to identify and  support  students who experience learning challenges. My curiosity about the best ways  to support struggling students  led me to train in Brain Gym™ and Bal-A-Vis-X™, movement-based methods that enhance focus, integration, and well-being. These approaches have become valuable tools in my work with children.  In 2022  I completed a  pedagogical research project for the Rudolf Steiner College Canada (RSCC) exploring how movement and clay form modeling  can support the social and emotional health of children in the post-pandemic classrooms.  This study has brought me to pursue my Emergency Pedagogy certification through Friends of Waldorf Education in Germany.   This summer I will be teaching at the RSCC  summer teacher training program in Richmond Hill.    

Alongside my educational work, I’ve always maintained a deep connection to the land. I hold an Advanced Permaculture Design Certificate, and my gardening business—Natural Path Gardens—reflects this commitment. Natural Path Gardens is a seasonal business specializing in the creation and care of ecological landscapes. I design and maintain naturalized, native, and edible gardens for homes, schoolyards, and institutions. Rooted in permaculture principles, my approach emphasizes sustainability, biodiversity, and beauty—creating living spaces that nourish both people and the planet.

In 2024, I founded Natural Path Arts & Learning, a company that brings together all aspects of my work: a pottery studio, a movement-based learning support practice, and an ecological gardening business. It’s a space where creativity, connection, and care for the natural world come together to support growth and resilience—for children and adults alike.