"Grow A Gardener" workshop update May 30, 2012

This email is being sent to every member of the Lehigh Acres Edible Gardening Exchange, interested parties, the volunteers working on this project, as well as being posted on our Facebook page and Blog. We still need a few more people to help out. Come join our great bunch and have fun while developing this kids workshop.

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Eight week program to cover:

1. Dirt, compost, tools, sand, compost tea, build outdoor garden bed(s), homework**, auction*
2. Seeds, germination, design a plot, plant, water outdoor garden beds, start seeds, seed cups, homework**, auction*
3. Water, rain, watering cans, growing seasons, list of veggies, fruits and grains, plant seeds, water outdoor garden beds, homework**, auction*
4. Worm bin, fertilizer, mulch, cover crops, green manure, water/weed outdoor garden beds, homework**, auction*
5. Propagation and container gardening, water/weed outdoor garden beds, homework**, auction*
6. Bugs, weeds, sprays, bees, pollination, nematodes, water/weed outdoor garden beds, homework**, auction*
7. Herbs, make seed packets, seed saving, water/weed outdoor garden beds, homework**, auction*
8. Take garden apart, potluck outside, raffle, certificate of completion

*auction = one coupon per question asked (use great pumpkin bean bag). At end of class the person with the most coupons wins the auction prize or can "save up" for a prize another week.

**homework = a "do at home" project. Can be writing a paragraph or two, photographing physical work, caring for a plant and returning, bringing in supplies for the following week.

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Materials cost to include a one large carry bag (unless someone has this already), gloves and trowels for each student plus a marker that will write on black (unless someone already has this). More items to be added to this list as class plans develop.

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Each class will "aim" for this breakdown of an hour:

• 25 minutes: educate, science craft, feel an edible (all based on lesson theme)
• 20 minutes: water, weed, and garden outside or if bad weather inside paper activity(s)
• 15 minutes: wash up, eat an edible while assigning homework
• PLUS 10 minutes: clean up room

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Sent to Colleen Via at Veterans Park for her general input. Nothing is not in concrete:

Grow A Gardener workshop presented by the Lehigh Acres Edible Gardening Exchange. Suitable for ages 8-11. Parents must attend and participate. Have fun learning what makes good dirt, what plants need to grow, how seeds become a plant, play in worm poop, make more plants, good and bad bugs, plus taste unusual edibles. Everything to get started growing edibles in our unique climate.

Eight week program Mondays beginning September 10, ending October 29. Workshop starts at 10am, clean up ends 11:10am. Free with Veterans Park membership. Materials fee of $XX (?$25) per child is payable at the first workshop to instructor.

Minimum 5 maximum 15.

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Side note: 

Pantry Garden release forms found by librarian Lynn.  

Pantry Garden community service project for home schoolers begins this Monday, June 4th at 7am. They will bring their own gloves and trowels. Pantry's larger tools can be used by age appropriate children or parents. Parents will be accompanying all children. Parents will sign release forms for themselves and their children.

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Next meeting Wednesday June 6th, 3:30pm at the library study room. 

We need to cover:

• Pantry Garden feedback from Monday
• Assign week's subjects to research and develop into a full hour lesson, clarify what each lesson is going to cover with every volunteer
• Discuss jobs that we each will do during the eight week program: setup, teach lesson, handle craft time, handle outdoor garden time, do/make/provide eat and feel an edible, handle paper activity, present homework assignments, cleanup.

Thanks to all involved in creating this learning experience for our future gardeners.

Karen

Karen Harty, Moderator 
Lehigh Acres Edible Gardening Exchange A bunch of gardeners sharing knowledge, successes, failures, ideas, seeds, and more to grow edibles year-round in Lehigh Acres, Florida.

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