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. In 2023 the application is due by April 22.
There is a limit of 26 students for the program. If there are more applicants than openings, we will keep a waiting list of families for the following year.
There is a Meet and Greet time on Sunday May 22 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 early August. For 2023, the program starts June 6 and runs through August 1 with a family picnic on Sunday Aug 6 from 4:30 - 6 pm. 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. We also have 3 Culvers Share Nights coming this spring to raise additional funds for the program. Those nights are Thursday, April 6, Thursday, May 11 and Tuesday, June 6 all from 5 to 9 pm at Culvers, Hwy 14 in Spring Green. The Share Night 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. Application information: Busy Bees ApplicationBusy Bees Flier Note: Mistake on Flier Sunday May 21 Meet and Greet
Garden Activities
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.
2023 Planned Curriculum with weekly garden tours and taste testing of veggies and fruits TBA Garden preparation - Prepping beds, mulching pathways, etc. Sunday May 21 Meet and Greet Activity: Plant lettuce, radishes, onions, kohlrabi, etc - Cool weather crops Tuesday June 6 Planting Day Tuesday June 13 Plant growth, plant parts, water/irrigation Tuesday June 20 Earthworms, soil health Tuesday June 27 Weeds, mulch Tuesday July 4 No meeting Tuesday July 11 Pollinator / Bugs Day with Ms Tracy from DATCP Tuesday July 19 Flowers / Bulbs / Rhizomes / Tubers / Pollen Note: May be switched with July 26 Tuesday July 26 Art activity (Bowling Ball bugs) Note: May be switched with July 19 Tuesday Aug 1 Giving Back / Harvesting / Sunday Aug 6 Recognition Day / Family Picnic TBA Garden Clean-up
Children's Garden
A communal garden has also been established to encourage students to work together and share veggies with others Extra veggies are harvested and placed in the kiosk on Westmor St.
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.