We come to your garden to teach your children to garden. They’ll study your garden’s design, learn about your plants, plan for an area of fruit and veg, plant that up, cook with the harvest, study wildlife, create fairy gardens, and make mud pies – all to create everyday connections for your family with food and nature while prepping your children for school science, enhancing their interest in gardening, beautifying your space, and encouraging beneficial wildlife. That’s quite a lot!
Over 4 visits (lasting 2-3 hours each) Mrs. Lucie Galvin (Garden Designer, Teacher, & Mom) will bring out your children’s curiosity through hands-on work. Here’s a list of our classes:
Class 1: What’s in My Garden? - After listening to some great stories your children will create new gardening journals to use. Then they’ll grab trugs and explore your garden afresh. Your children will learn plant names, parts, how they work, and other interesting characteristics. Best of all they’ll practice some cultivation techniques (a little pruning, tying in, weeding, watering…..children love this!) on these old friends. We’ll select a spot for a kitchen garden (in ground, pots, or raised beds) for our next class and make a plant list (….which fruit, herbs, and veg would you like to have on hand for use in your favorite recipes?) (Materials to keep: Book, journal, sticker book, basket/trug, measuring tape, scissors, and twine.)
Class 2: Kitchen Gardening - Planting fruit and veg, watching the plant life cycle, and being taught what’s edible or not – your children will become gardeners. They’ll gleefully ready pots, a plot, or raised bed each; sow seeds; plant; and learn organic gardening techniques. They’ll most likely be tempted to eat their (phytonutrient rich) fruit and veg raw, freshly picked, and on the spot. What could be healthier? We’ll touch on soil science, the water cycle, et al. in as much depth as appropriate for their ages. (Materials to keep: Book, plants & seeds (often including blueberries, chives, chocolate mint, lettuce, nasturtiums, peas, pumpkins, and runner beans), gloves, canes, trowel, and watering can.)
Class 3: Fairies in The Bottom of The Garden - Your children will ponder ‘Just whose garden is it?’ learning about the animals living in and migrating through your garden. They’ll i.d. beneficial insects and foes and will go on a ‘beast hunt’ using a field guide, magnifying glass, and great App. It’s amazing how much life lives in just one sq. foot of grass – and how important that life is! Then we’ll read fairy tales and create a fairy garden to lure in beneficial wildlife (or fairies and elves) – inspiring hours of imaginative play and a new connection with your garden as an outdoor room. (Materials to keep: Book, field guide, magnifying glass, fairy house, miniatures, plants & seeds (often including California poppies, rosemary, sage, Santa Barbara daisies, and thyme), and ladybugs (in season).)
Class 4: Mud Pies and Other Recipes - Your children will revel in preparing backyard stew and mud custard as we work our way through one fantastical recipe book. They’ll learn flower arranging basics and prep a real edible recipe from their garden for your table – connecting gardening to their own good health and sharing their knowledge and success as gardeners with your whole family. (Materials to keep: Book (one of the best!), cupcake holders, plants & seeds (often including basil, bay, chard, cosmos, strawberries, and tomatoes), vase, cut flowers, groceries, and recipes.)
We set your children’s interest at home where they can interact daily with their gardens and make decisions as the Head Gardeners of their own plots. They’ll gain hands-on experience with science, math, literature and art – and a greater respect and responsibility for the environment, your home, and their own good health. Patience and other skills will be fostered – and your children’s taste for fruit and veg. might grow!
Following the series we’ll return whenever you like to garden with your children – teaching time-tested methods of organic gardening through the seasons and bringing plants and a gift with each visit (a book; fairy door; the makings of a scarecrow or succulent garden…..) to pique your children’s interest.
As science teachers attest, a youthful connection with nature is one of our children’s best resources for success. As parents attest, these classes add delight and wonder to childhood. Call for a spot, today!
