Comments on: ACCESS Preschool Teaching Through Gardening http://www.pallensmith.com/blog/garden/kids-in-the-garden P. Allen Smith is an award-winning garden expert, author, and television host. Mon, 20 May 2013 17:18:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Marilyn Norberg http://www.pallensmith.com/blog/garden/kids-in-the-garden/comment-page-1#comment-214 Marilyn Norberg Sun, 29 May 2011 22:56:42 +0000 http://www.pallensmith.com/blog/?p=167#comment-214 I have taught preschool for over 30 years, and also work at the Life Lab garden program at UCSC and have noticed how children are much more willing to try a new food if they have grown it or picked it. With children spending more time indoors on computers etc., it is great to get them out digging in the dirt, close to nature. I have taught preschool for over 30 years, and also work at the Life Lab garden program at UCSC and have noticed how children are much more willing to try a new food if they have grown it or picked it. With children spending more time indoors on computers etc., it is great to get them out digging in the dirt, close to nature.

]]> By: Matha http://www.pallensmith.com/blog/garden/kids-in-the-garden/comment-page-1#comment-210 Matha Thu, 26 May 2011 14:33:31 +0000 http://www.pallensmith.com/blog/?p=167#comment-210 Hello Allen, I thought your young gardeners would enjoy an gardening adventure, growing the TickleMe Plant (Mimosa pudica). Recently featured by the National Gardening Association, http://www.kidsgardeningstore.com/14-1030.html If you want to give your young gardeners an experience they will never forget, consider having them grow a TickleMe Plant. This is the plant that will close its leaves and lower its branches when you tickle it. They sprout in days and can be grown indoors any time of year. Just Google TickleMe Plants or go to Http://www.ticklemeplant.com for information seeds and growing kits. This plant has turned many kids into plant and nature lovers. I know, because I grow TickleMe Plants in my classroom. Happy Growing Martha Hello Allen,
I thought your young gardeners would enjoy an gardening adventure, growing the TickleMe Plant (Mimosa pudica). Recently featured by the National Gardening Association, http://www.kidsgardeningstore.com/14-1030.html
If you want to give your young gardeners an experience they will never forget, consider having them grow a TickleMe Plant. This is the plant that will close its leaves and lower its branches when you tickle it. They sprout in days and can be grown indoors any time of year. Just Google TickleMe Plants or go to Http://www.ticklemeplant.com for information seeds and growing kits. This plant has turned many kids into plant and nature lovers. I know, because I grow TickleMe Plants in my classroom.
Happy Growing

Martha

]]> By: Florence Reynolds http://www.pallensmith.com/blog/garden/kids-in-the-garden/comment-page-1#comment-166 Florence Reynolds Tue, 24 May 2011 12:14:59 +0000 http://www.pallensmith.com/blog/?p=167#comment-166 I am LUCKY ENOUGH to be a gardener's daughter who "grew up in a garden"! Then lucky enough to STUDY HORTICULTURE & to become a HORT. TEACHER. Teaching " Professiona;s" [Doctors & dentists, & Nurses} during WWII to grew vegetables in a big , 3 acre VICTORY GARDEN! Those ADULTS [who had never gardened before} were just a "fascinated" by the WONDER of actually GROWING VEGGIES from SEEDS as any young child! I am LUCKY ENOUGH to be a gardener’s daughter who “grew up in a garden”! Then lucky enough to STUDY HORTICULTURE & to become a HORT. TEACHER. Teaching ” Professiona;s” [Doctors & dentists, & Nurses} during WWII to grew vegetables in a big , 3 acre VICTORY GARDEN! Those ADULTS [who had never gardened before} were just a “fascinated” by the WONDER of actually GROWING VEGGIES from SEEDS as any young child!

]]> By: Blair Wells http://www.pallensmith.com/blog/garden/kids-in-the-garden/comment-page-1#comment-165 Blair Wells Mon, 23 May 2011 23:15:10 +0000 http://www.pallensmith.com/blog/?p=167#comment-165 I am a first grade teacher and my class has a vegetable garden. We live in South Carolina. There is a spot right outside of my classroom. We planted early spring crops...radishes, lettuce, carrots seeds. We also planted strawberry plants. We planted potatoes, onions and collard plants, too. The kids had a ball. We used lots of math skills planning the garden and rows. The children got tape measures and measured, then drew plans on paper. We also had great parents that got involved. We wrote a blog and talked about our garden. We also did blogs and wrote poems about our garden. The students took turns taking photos of our class working in the garden. After working hard they were thrilled to eat their harvest. I am a first grade teacher and my class has a vegetable garden. We live in South Carolina. There is a spot right outside of my classroom. We planted early spring crops…radishes, lettuce, carrots seeds. We also planted strawberry plants. We planted potatoes, onions and collard plants, too. The kids had a ball. We used lots of math skills planning the garden and rows. The children got tape measures and measured, then drew plans on paper. We also had great parents that got involved. We wrote a blog and talked about our garden. We also did blogs and wrote poems about our garden. The students took turns taking photos of our class working in the garden. After working hard they were thrilled to eat their harvest.

]]> By: Jo Ann http://www.pallensmith.com/blog/garden/kids-in-the-garden/comment-page-1#comment-164 Jo Ann Mon, 23 May 2011 22:33:13 +0000 http://www.pallensmith.com/blog/?p=167#comment-164 My 40-plus year old son had a wonderful teacher when he was in first grade that taught him the joy of gardening. She had the children hold a green bean in their mouth for a good part of the day (plus it kept them quiet for a while). They planted their beans in paper cups, gave them names and sat them on the window sill until they sprouted. When it was time to transplant them they got to bring their beans home. Unfortunately the very first night rabbits chrewed "Benny Bean" to the ground and I had to on a mission to find a vine in a neighbors garden before he discovered what had happened. That afternoon we purchased some chicken wire and enclosed it. When the beans matured, he got to pick them and helped cook them for a special dinner where he invited both sets of grandparents to enjoy his efforts. My 40-plus year old son had a wonderful teacher when he was in first grade that taught him the joy of gardening. She had the children hold a green bean in their mouth for a good part of the day (plus it kept them quiet for a while). They planted their beans in paper cups, gave them names and sat them on the window sill until they sprouted. When it was time to transplant them they got to bring their beans home. Unfortunately the very first night rabbits chrewed “Benny Bean” to the ground and I had to on a mission to find a vine in a neighbors garden before he discovered what had happened. That afternoon we purchased some chicken wire and enclosed it. When the beans matured, he got to pick them and helped cook them for a special dinner where he invited both sets of grandparents to enjoy his efforts.

]]> By: Laura Daniel http://www.pallensmith.com/blog/garden/kids-in-the-garden/comment-page-1#comment-163 Laura Daniel Mon, 23 May 2011 22:00:31 +0000 http://www.pallensmith.com/blog/?p=167#comment-163 I work at Access and have had the priveledge to go on the field trip to see the daffadils and to help some in the garden at school. Every day I take someone to the garden to see the seeds sprouting and growing in the vegitable garden. Today there were 4 leaves on the bean sprouts. It was such a joy to see the kids picking and eating the asparagus right from the ground on the farm. Most kids shy away from vegis but the trip and the garden have enriched the experiences of our students. Recently, we dug potatos and carrots then cooked them in the class. It is wonderful to see the kids light up with the wonderful literature we have that affirms what they are experiencing in the garden. I work at Access and have had the priveledge to go on the field trip to see the daffadils and to help some in the garden at school. Every day I take someone to the garden to see the seeds sprouting and growing in the vegitable garden. Today there were 4 leaves on the bean sprouts. It was such a joy to see the kids picking and eating the asparagus right from the ground on the farm. Most kids shy away from vegis but the trip and the garden have enriched the experiences of our students.
Recently, we dug potatos and carrots then cooked them in the class. It is wonderful to see the kids light up with the wonderful literature we have that affirms what they are experiencing in the garden.

]]> By: Kelsey http://www.pallensmith.com/blog/garden/kids-in-the-garden/comment-page-1#comment-162 Kelsey Mon, 23 May 2011 21:46:40 +0000 http://www.pallensmith.com/blog/?p=167#comment-162 My three year old and my 9 month old both help me in our garden. It is wonderful to teach so many lessons in life. There are many good books written for children on gardening. The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle is a good one for little ones. I love the Carrot Seed book - very cute! My three year old and my 9 month old both help me in our garden. It is wonderful to teach so many lessons in life. There are many good books written for children on gardening. The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle is a good one for little ones. I love the Carrot Seed book – very cute!

]]> By: Annie Haven | Authentic Haven Brand http://www.pallensmith.com/blog/garden/kids-in-the-garden/comment-page-1#comment-160 Annie Haven | Authentic Haven Brand Mon, 23 May 2011 18:54:59 +0000 http://www.pallensmith.com/blog/?p=167#comment-160 Getting them in the garden at an early age will get them eating their veggies : ) Wonderful to see the sharing growing on Getting them in the garden at an early age will get them eating their veggies : ) Wonderful to see the sharing growing on

]]> By: Nancy L. http://www.pallensmith.com/blog/garden/kids-in-the-garden/comment-page-1#comment-159 Nancy L. Mon, 23 May 2011 16:07:49 +0000 http://www.pallensmith.com/blog/?p=167#comment-159 I have been taking care of both my grandson since they were 12 weeks old. They have been helping in the gardens at 1 I showed them what was a weed and what is a flower. I don't do veggie other than tomatoes. They both know what to pull and what not to step on. They are big helpers in the gardens. They are 6 and 3 it's a wonderful thing to spend time doing what I love and teaching them that love. Nancy L. I have been taking care of both my grandson since they were 12 weeks old. They have been helping in the gardens at 1 I showed them what was a weed and what is a flower. I don’t do veggie other than tomatoes. They both know what to pull and what not to step on. They are big helpers in the gardens. They are 6 and 3 it’s a wonderful thing to spend time doing what I love and teaching them that love.

Nancy L.

]]> By: P. Allen Smith http://www.pallensmith.com/blog/garden/kids-in-the-garden/comment-page-1#comment-156 P. Allen Smith Mon, 23 May 2011 11:21:57 +0000 http://www.pallensmith.com/blog/?p=167#comment-156 Lisa, I could not agree more! Children are so drawn to the natural world. It can teach them, and us, so much about life! Thank you for your thoughtful comment. Allen Lisa,
I could not agree more! Children are so drawn to the natural world. It can teach them, and us, so much about life! Thank you for your thoughtful comment.
Allen

]]> By: Lisa L. http://www.pallensmith.com/blog/garden/kids-in-the-garden/comment-page-1#comment-146 Lisa L. Fri, 20 May 2011 15:53:06 +0000 http://www.pallensmith.com/blog/?p=167#comment-146 Children have a natural curiosity for the outdoors. I believe it is so important to nurture this curiosity. They need to be aware of what is around them; to learn how to respect and care for it. Instilling organic living into the next generation is vital to their health and well-being and gardening is an excellent activity for their mind and body. Last summer my little niece came over while I was working in the garden and her eyes lit up when I asked her for help. Children have a natural curiosity for the outdoors. I believe it is so important to nurture this curiosity. They need to be aware of what is around them; to learn how to respect and care for it. Instilling organic living into the next generation is vital to their health and well-being and gardening is an excellent activity for their mind and body. Last summer my little niece came over while I was working in the garden and her eyes lit up when I asked her for help.

]]>