Kids in the Garden a new summer program in Prairie du Chien
Youth ages 5-14 are invited to get their hands dirty this summer as part of the free Kids in the Garden program at the Memorial Gardens. Donna Teynor is the program gardener and she will have her great-granddaughter Kaylee Welch with her most weeks. (Photo by Correne Martin)
By Correne Martin
Kids can get their hands dirty and learn about gardening, while also taking a few fresh goodies home, through the free Kids in the Garden program at Prairie du Chien’s Memorial Gardens.
Hour-long classes will be held rain or shine, starting Wednesday, June 14, and continuing on Wednesdays, June 21, July 5, July 19, Aug. 2 and Aug. 16. Kids ages 5-14 (and their parents/guardians required for children under 10) can come to the gardens from 10 to 11 a.m., or 4 to 5 p.m., those days. Or, if they’d like, they may attend both sessions.
Kids are asked to wear play clothes and shoes and dress for the weather. Parents should supply sunscreen and bug spray. The kids’ garden will be located behind the play area in the Memorial Gardens.
In the beginning, kids will learn all about planting seeds and plants. Each participant will have their own little space to care for over the course of the program.
Because gardening season has already begun, a variety of produce has been planted, including spinach, lettuce, radishes, herbs, peas, tomatoes, onions and strawberries. So minimal planting will be done the first week, but the youth will get to make labels and water the garden. Also on June 14, there will be a story time and plenty of educational fun about the seeds and plants.
“There should be a few leaves of spinach and lettuce we can rinse and taste right in the garden. The stuff you buy in the grocery store doesn’t always taste like fresh grown this time of year,” said Master Gardener Donna Teynor, who is also the kids program coordinator. “Then, there will be some for them to take home.”
On June 21, the theme is the honey bee’s tail. Kids will learn how to care for their little plants and do weeding, mulching and watering. Beans will also be planted. Then, the group will talk about honey bees and other pollinators and why they’re important to the food people eat.
On July 5, marvelous monarchs will be the focus as the children again weed, water and harvest the vegetables that are ready.
Magical hummingbirds will be featured July 19, as hummingbird feeders will be put up and the kids will discuss the adorable little birds. They will also weed, water and harvest more vegetables.
Aug. 2 will be an opportunity for the youth to experience building a bug hotel to put by their garden. Of course, weeding, watering and harvesting will need to be done as well.
Then, ending the program, on Aug. 16, the kids will make seed bombs and go on a scavenger hunt in the garden. They will weed, water and harvest one final time and again taste what they’ve grown.
“This is something I’ve wanted to do for five or six years,” Teynor said. I’m excited to get to do it this year.”
Already this week, about 40 kids have preregistered for Kids in the Garden through the Prairie du Chien Parks and Recreation Department. More are welcome to come the first day, June 14. Also sponsoring the program are the Crawford County Master Gardeners and the St. Feriole Island Memorial Gardens committee. Universal Forest Products and Spahn & Rose have provided the materials to build raised garden beds for the program. Plus, Nelson True Value and Walmart donated potting soil for the kids’ benefit.
For more information, contact Donna Teynor at (608) 412-4661.
