I’m here to report that we had a fantastic first ‘Kids in the Garden’ Session yesterday.  I don’t think we could have asked for better weather OR better kids!  What fun!  I’ll share a quick run down of what we did on our first day and share a few pictures.  To see more pictures be sure to check out the ‘Kids in the Garden’ flickr group I started HERE.  If you’re participating in our little program please feel free to upload your pictures to the group as well!

We started out with some introductions – we had some kitties, dogs, and of course teachers and leaders to introduce to the kiddo’s. 

Next – we got right to work.  We had the kids help with a bit of weeding before we started to plant in the raised garden. 

Diane is demonstrating how you separate the roots before you plant a seedling – you don’t want the roots to grow in a circle…you want them to spread outwards.  Each child got to plant either a tomato plant, a pepper plant, parsley, or marigolds (marigolds are a companion plant in a garden that repels pests).   Next up – time to plant a seed (or 20)!  In the blue planter the kids planted beets and swiss chard.  We salvaged the jungle gym that many years ago children at the Arlington School played on and we’re happy to be reusing it as a trellis garden.  The kids all planted three beans – one of each variety shown above that will grow on the trellis and create a fabulous vertical garden.  It was time for a little ‘cooler’ fun.  We have a decent herb garden going already between the sheds and Diane found a fabulous recipe using chocolate mint.  As promised to all the mom’s – here’s the recipe:

Strawberry Chocolate Mint Lemonade Cooler

2 cups frozen whole strawberries (I used ones we had picked at Burr Oak Gardens)

1-1/2 cups lemonade

1 tbsp Farm Fresh honey from Lapacek’s Orchard

6-8 chocolate mint leaves from Lapacek’s Orchard’s herb garden

Blend all ingredients in blender, pour and enjoy!

We still had a little time so we took our group on a tour of all the gardens the kids will be working on and learning from throughout this summer.  Above is our Sweet Corn ‘Field’.  Here we have our canning tomatoes planted. And here is just a seedling of the sunflower’s we’re going to have a blast watching grow!

We already have a fabulous itinerary for next week including a little painting project for some garden art, some fabulous ‘wormy’ learning and of course a little garden fresh snack!

Our little rain gage gnome is excited to see everyone next week too!