The Busy Bees Garden Club is designed for children ages 3 to Grade 4 who are interested or curious about gardening, nature, the environment, butterflies and pollinators, the outdoors. It is designed to get students outside and let them experience gardening and nature first hand.
Application for the program is required. Registration information will be available in March of 2024. There is a limit of 26 students for the program. If there are more applicants than openings, we will establish a waiting list of families for the following year.
There is a Meet and Greet time on Sunday May 19 from 3:30 - 4:30 pm to meet instructors and become acquainted with the Gardens. We will talk about planning what the students want to plant and then planting cool weather crops such as radishes, peas, onions, potatoes,
The club meets from the first Tuesday in June through the end of July / early August. The first day of the program is always planting the student's raised bed with either seeds or seedlings.
We are asking for a minimum $5 donation per child to help with the costs of the program. Funds are used to replenish the soil in the raised beds, repair the beds, purchase garden tools, seeds and seedlings for the students, and supplies for the learning activities that are planned.
Children will learn the basics of gardening, it's importance and it's responsibilities through the planting, weeding, watering and caring for their own 2 x 4 ft raised bed. The children will select their own vegetables and flowers for planting in their beds. They will learn how to plant a seed or a seedling, mulch a garden, weed, and harvest. They will also learn about soil, pollinators, pest control, weed prevention, and the importance of flowers.
Children will be given opportunities to pick and taste test fruit and veggies from the garden as it ripens. They will also learn to give back to the community by harvesting veggies to place in the Free Veggies Kiosk on Westmor St
As time allows children may enjoy fun activities which may include a craft activity, story time, games, and scavenger hunts related to gardening and water fun.
After frost, the group meets to clean raised beds and prepare the garden for winter. In the spring, the group is invited to attend a work day to prepare the beds and garden for the upcoming growing season.
2024 Planned Curriculum and Calendar posted after March 13, 2025. 2024 Planned Curriculum with weekly garden tours and taste testing of veggies and fruits. May change Saturday April 20 Garden preparation - Prepping beds, mulching pathways, etc. Sunday May 19 Meet and Greet Activity: Plant lettuce, radishes, onions, kohlrabi, etc - Cool weather crops Tuesday June 4 Planting Day Tuesday June 11 Plant growth, plant parts, water/irrigation Tuesday June 18 Soil health, worms, water Tuesday June 25 Weeds, mulch Tuesday July 2 Pollinator / Bugs Day Tuesday July 9 Flowers / Bulbs / Rhizomes / Tubers / Pollen Tuesday July 16 Art activity (Toad house or Bee Waterer Tuesday July 23 Wrap-up / Giving Back / Harvesting Sunday July 28 Recognition Day / Family Picnic Sunday Aug 6 Field trip to Steadfast Acres Truck Farm (corner of Hwy 130 / CTY JJ) (optional) Sunday Aug 18 Harvesting for Spring Green Community Food Pantry (optional) TBA October Garden Clean-up
Parent Responsibilities
Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Parents or guardians are encouraged to participate along with their children. Parents or guardians are encouraged to bring their children to the garden between weekly programs and after the program ends to check their plants, water as necessary and harvest as the vegetables ripen.