Working in the Garden

Finally, the weather is warming up nicely, and it's time again to work in the garden together! We've had 2 garden work day, with lots of wonderful help from families. It is so rewarding to spend time with parents and kids together, and to get some real work done. Our gardens are coming along nicely. We have learned a few things about gardening with toddlers and preschoolers. As a result, we've added a couple things: first, we added a high raised bed for the preschoolers, so that they can plant their garden and be confident that the toddlers will not pull up their plants; second, we installed a mud/dirt digging pit by the garden. This is designed to be a place for kids who just want to dig in the dirt to do just that. It's also an alternative to digging the dirt right out of the garden! The preschoolers have lots of seedlings sprouting in side, which is very exciting to see. When given a chance, they are likely to tell you what little plant they planted and tended, and they are likely to know just what it will become, too. 

In accordance with our commitment to environmental education, the preschoolers have been learning about different types of waste: recycling and compost, in particular. Many of them have become experts on what can be recycled or composted. Ask them to sing this song for you:

Good garbage breaks down as it goes.
That's why it smells bad to your nose.
Bad garbage grows and grows and grows. 
Garbage is supposed to decompose.