by Kristen Smeal, ABG Board Member These books were handpicked by five-year-old Rosemary, a lover of books and gardening. Muncha, Muncha, Muncha by Candace Fleming Young children will engage with this book, repeating the onomatopoeic phrases of hungry rabbits finding their way into Mr. McGreely’s garden. With the turn of […]
by Kristen Smeal, ABG board member and Master Gardener A garden journal can be used for planning a garden as well as recording progress throughout the season. Children can be encouraged to play an active role in the planning process by making a personalized garden journal. Having children plant some […]
by Sarah Miller, Master Gardener The process of worm composting (or vermiculture) can be a mutually beneficial undertaking. Your child learns about worm biology, decomposition and waste reduction, and the worms create black gold for your garden, also known as worm castings or worm poop. To get started you’ll need […]
by Kristen Smeal, Master Gardener Brightly colored fruits and vegetables not only add a pop of color to the table, they also add an abundance of nutrients and fun. Summertime yields a colorful palate of vegetables and fruits: red, yellow and purple tomatoes; green and yellow cucumbers; navy blueberries and […]
by Kristen Smeal, Master Gardener Gardening is the ideal outdoor learning experience. Whether growing in containers, raised beds, or the ground, the rewards of growing vegetables are plentiful. When children see the process from seed to harvest, they are more likely to taste vegetables they might not normally try. Pumpkins […]
By Kristen Smeal with planting instructions by Alison Limoges Many of the techniques used in gardening and farming today were developed by indigenous peoples of a given area. In the Bay Area, the Ohlone (Costanoan) tribes buried fish from the Bay and nearby creeks to fertilize garden crops. Growing corn […]
by Kristen Smeal, Master Gardener Seed tape is a biodegradable tape that helps with plant spacing in the garden. It is beneficial for planting small seeds that normally require thinning (a gardeners dreaded task) like carrots, lettuces, herbs, and greens (collards, kale, spinach). This can be especially important for children, […]
by Kristen Smeal, Master Gardener Tussie-Mussie vs. Nosegay A tussie-mussie is a small bunch of flowers gathered in a paper cone that can represent a message from the giver to the recipient. These floral bundles of communication were common in the Victorian era. Traditionally, red flowers meant love, pink represented […]
