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This is very much a child and parent program and
requires hands-on participation from parents.
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We encourage parents and children to take photographs
of our activities. It would be much appreciated if you would share
some of your photos. We may use some on the website.
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Garden journal (We ask that each child keep a garden
journal. You can make something or use a simple three-ring folder.
We will occasionally pass out some material).
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Have each child bring a clipboard and pencil to each
class. How they will be used will vary depending on the nature and
age of each child.
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We encourage the children to take time at home, after
each class, to write about what they did, observed that day. We encourage
them to share what they write. With their permission, some of it
may be use on the website.
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Each class will include gardening related activities
and a garden related craft of some kind so the children will have something
to take home each time.
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We have specific activities planned each week but
they are subject to change. If we come across a garden spider in her web,
for example, we will stop whatever we are doing to watch her.
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Please bring scissors for each child and parent.
Keep in mind that these will be used for cutting flowers and other things
you may not normally think of doing with scissors.
September 14
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We will visit the garden site that has been set aside
for your group, assign each child a garden spot and take inventory of the
plants growing there, haul compost from the compost pile to apply to the
garden and mulch the paths if needed. (The group may want to create
a special sign for your garden.)
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We will press flowers to use in a project later in
the year and learn how to hang flowers to dry. (Please bring a telephone
book for each child.) You will take home bunches of flowers to hang
and dry.
October 28
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We will plant spring bulbs - we ask each family
to bring a bag of daffodils or tulips.
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We will collect seeds from many plants in the gardens.
You will receive patterns for making seed packs. Homework assignment
for younger children is to draw and color a picture of the flower and write
the name of the flower on the packet. Older children will research
growing information to include on the packet, i.e. depth to plant, height
and size of plant, etc.
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Pick a bouquet of flower to take home.
October 12
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We will harvest from the gardens, washing and tasting
much of the produce as we go.
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We will clear everything from your assigned gardens
and apply a light layer of straw.
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Depending on if we have a killing frost by now or
not, we may also dig dahlias for storage.
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We will take cuttings from a variety of garden plant
to root and winter over inside.
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Create a cutting jar.
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Pick a bouquet of flower to take home.
March 21
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Plant an early garden of lettuce, peas, radishes,
onions, potatoes etc.
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Paint-a-rock
April 4
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Assist with cleanup in the common areas. See
what is coming up in flower gardens.
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Plant seeds to start under lights.
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Paint a pot
April 18
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Checkout what is coming up in your garden.
Are there weeds that need pulling?
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Start a sweet potato plant
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Plant dahlias
Week 1: topic: Introduction to the gardens.
craft: pressing flowers/drying flowers
Week 2: topic: Gardening, collecting seeds
Craft: seed packs...then at home, younger children
can draw and color a
picture of the flower and write the name of the
flower on the packet. Older
children can research growing information to
include on the packet, i.e.
depth to plant, height and size of plant, etc.
Week 3: topic: Preparing the garden for
winter/planting spring bulbs
craft: Rooting cuttings from the garden and planting
to winter off inside.
Week 4: topic: Possibly harvesting produce from
the gardens, digging dahlias
for storage, composting
craft: baby scarecrows
Possible Spring topics:
Planting an early garden of lettuce, peas, radishes,
onions etc.
Starting perennials and annuals from seed.
Possible spring crafts: painted garden rocks,
painted flowerpots, cutting
jars, pressed flower cards/bookmarks, hummingbird
feeder. |