Texas Can Academy visited us Tuesday bringing 39 kids and 3 adults. Instead of the usual field trips to water parks and amusement centers the teachers wanted to build on what they are learning in class about healthy eating and nutrition. Gardening efforts were already underway at Texas Can Academy with the students planting squash, green beans, peas, and tomatoes. They wanted to learn more about how to set up a “real garden” so a trip to our Demonstration Garden was the perfect next step.
Keeping a Garden Journal is introduced to our students. This future gardener is writing about herbs he has just tasted, touched, and smelled.
We have had 210 students visiting our gardens since the beginning of April, 2014. Our Field Trips are designed to augment the school’s curriculum. Annette, our educational director, works with teachers to set up learning centers in our gardens taught by Dallas County Master Gardeners.
This little girl is holding up a self watering container she made. She will be able to take this home and sprout her own seeds.
It’s rewarding to introduce these little children to the joys of gardening. We like to remind little folks that their t-shirts and jeans are made from the produce of this plant. Note the wonder and surprise in this little girl’s face; a precious moment for us as well. Read more about cotton here.
Excitement in the garden is contagious. Jim is showing students our cotton plants and cotton bolls.
Dallas County Master Gardeners spend a good deal of time and energy with compost! Grass clippings, brown leaves, and vegetable and fruit scraps create the fertilizer for our gardens which eventually feeds us. We hope to inspire a whole new generation of future composters.
Good compost smells good!
Improve your compost skills by reading Cindy’s Compost tips and you will see why we call her “the compassionate composter”. For more field trip information click on this link. Plan your fall visit now.
Thank you Texas Can Academy for visiting us, we will see you again in the fall!
Ann and Annette
Pictures by Starla
DALLAS GARDEN BUZZ 