We’re talking both kids AND plants — these students have energy to share! And share they do; their tools, their seeds, their worm poop.
Well, some things are easier to share than others, but from what I’ve seen, these gardeners are all about sharing the adventure of gardening. Especially these little ones.
Our kindergarten students were in charge of planting black beans. First they amended the soil (threw black dirt and formed two rows). “Can I use my hands?”
“Yes, if you’re wearing gloves.”
Next they dug holes in two neat lines (carved them as they saw fit). “Are these too close?”
Spying the holes side by side, I suggested they might want to stretch them out just a wee bit further.
Then they planted seeds in an orderly fashion (wildly orderly fashion!) and pointed at their handiwork. “Is this good?”
“Remember: only one or two per hole!” Not handfuls.
Ensuring a good start, they sprinkled them with fertilizer (covered them with worm poop) until finally they tucked them in for a nice fall harvest (patted them down with their shovels).
Voila — we have our bed of black beans! At the rate these kids planted, jungle of black beans may prove more accurate.
But if need be, we can “thin” the growth. At least this way, we will be certain to have a superb “bean to sprout” ratio!
Sort of like our corn. We’re going to have a bumper crop, for sure!
Lower elementary planted sweet peas along the fence.
When I asked who likes peas, only one boy claimed he didn’t.
A response to which I duly smiled. “You’ll LOVE these peas. Plucked fresh from the vine, they taste like sugar.”
He returned a skeptical look.
“Really,” I assured him. “Vegetables never tasted so sweet until you grew them yourself!”
Another child piped in, “You can eat them right from the plant?”
“Yes sir, so long as you wash them first. You never know what night visitors you may have had or what they may have been doing.”
Ewe. But true.
And don’t forget the herbs!
These girls worked like the three amigos, dropping their dirt and scattering their seeds like master gardeners — all this before running off to work on their kinetic challenge!
It’s all in a day’s work for these kids. And just look at their progress!
The “Brownie” beans are flourishing. These were planted first and are really doing well.
The tomatoes are thriving.
The carrots are poking free.
Why, it’s beginning to look like a real garden out there — thanks, gardeners!
Until next time…
Thanks for a great post. My wife will enjoy this as she is a teacher and loves to garden. As you have shown, the kids love it and it would make a great ongoing project for them in and out of the classroom.
Thanks Tony
Learning and living with nature — it is a fun combination!