Extension Communications
3614 Administrative Services Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3614
(515) 294-9915
10/7/02
Contacts:
Linda Naeve, Reiman Gardens, (515) 294-2710, lnaeve@iastate.edu
Jean McGuire, Continuing Education and Communication Services, (515) 294-7033,
jmcguire@iastate.edu
Yard and Garden Column for the Week Beginning Oct. 11, 2002
Children Grow in the Garden
By Linda Naeve
Extension Coordinator
Reiman Gardens
From the tomato patch I heard an excited voice yell, "Come and see this!" Eight-year-old Sarah had just made a new discovery. Down below the foliage on top of the grass clipping mulch was what appeared to her to be a small bird's nest. Everyone came running. What she had found was "bird's nest fungi" that does resemble a very tiny bird's nest with eggs in it. We don't often see it because it is so small and most adult gardeners don't look that close to find these fascinating things. We are usually in too big of a hurry to get the garden chores done and don't take time to see the special things in nature. Discoveries like Sarah's are not unusual in youth gardening programs. Children see things that we take for granted or overlook. That is why I believe adults gain as much from gardening with children as the children do about learning to grow plants. They open our eyes and renew our fascination in the natural world.
I have found that children's gardening programs grow much more than sunflowers, tomatoes and zinnias. It is an excellent classroom. The garden is an environment where children can be taught many subject areas. Even preschool-aged children learn in the garden. It is multisensory and has real-world application of many science skills. It stimulates their creativity as many writers, poets and authors are inspired by their natural surroundings. A child who gardens learns life's important lessons, including nurturing, respect, success, failure, appreciation for beauty and cooperation. These lessons are not learned sitting by themselves behind the screen of a video game.
Many children today do not know the origin their food, even children raised in the Midwest where agriculture is the leading industry. They go to the grocery store and find their food in the produce cooler, in jars or cans, or in the freezer case. A few generations ago, children gardened with parents or grandparents out of necessity to put food on the table. Unfortunately, this family activity rarely takes place today because the necessity may not exist. Many parents have little experience or knowledge about gardening or the family is too busy to take the time. Children have become disconnected from the land. Children need to learn and experience that soil is essential to all life - as essential as air, water, and sunlight. Gardening is a way to teach that connection and the importance of conserving our valuable natural resources. When these values are learned at a young age these children will become informed decision-makers as adults.
There are several opportunities to teach about the land and food in school classrooms and after-school programs. One particular curriculum for students in kindergarten through third grade is "Growing in the Garden." It was developed as a component of the Extension 21 Food, Fiber, and Environmental Science Program through Iowa State University Extension 4-H Youth Development. It has been taught to nearly 2,500 teachers and other educators throughout Iowa and has the potential to reach more than 30,000 children. Its goal is to "grow curiosity about agriculture, natural resources, food and people" around a gardening theme. It contains lessons for in-school instruction and out-of-school programs. The National Gardening Association recently recognized it as one of the top school gardening programs in the country. For more information on this exciting, hand-on curriculum see the Web site at http://www.extension.iastate.edu/GrowingintheGarden.
Parks, conservation programs, arboretums and botanical gardens throughout Iowa offer garden-related programs for youth. Contact them to learn more about their youth education programs. Gardening is a life skill that can develop into life-long hobby, passion or career. It is currently American adults favorite outdoor leisure activity. With a little encouragement, children also will enjoy the value and pleasure of working the land.
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