Kid's Blog

Following are on-line journal entries made by children participating in the 2003 Kids Touch the Earth gardening program.

August 09, 2008

Week 9 started on a rough weather note but ended strong with some of the most beautiful weather of the season. This week the campers learned about habitats on the farm. They discovered that a habitat is the home of a plant or animal. It provides the living creatures that live there with food, water, shelter, air and space to live or grow. We focused on what we could find living in our farm habitat and which animals might be a predator and which might be prey (or eaten by a predator).

The campers got to meet some live animals this week. Predators included American toads and tiger salamanders. The campers also learned about camouflage when they met a real, live walking stick. They learned that his shape and color help keep him safe from predators.

Aposematic coloration was the topic of discussion when they met the monarch butterfly caterpillar. His yellow, black and white bands send a signal to predators that he doesn't taste so good. The sap from the milkweed plant that he eats makes him taste so bad, that anything that eats him will likely vomit. It's his only defense from hungry predators.

The campers also had fun catching critters to feed to the toads. Just as much fun was had watching the toads eat their prey. They squealed with delight as they watched the lightning fast tongue of a toad whip out to capture a crawling cricket only to say "ewwwwwwwwww" when both of the toads eyes sunk into it's head in an effort to push it's meal down it's throat. Hey, toads don't have teeth, they have to eat that way!

The kids spent time in the garden watering and harvesting carrots, tomatoes, onions, squash and cucumbers. You'll see in the pictures how much the garden has changed over the summer months. The sunflower house is now more than 6 feet tall!

Farmer Steve was especially appreciative for their help washing beets this week. Thanks again for all of your hard work!

Take a look at some pictures we snapped this week!

Parents often ask us how got their child to eat their veggies. Well, it isn't always easy, but below are some recipes that we've used during camp. If you'd like more ideas, you can go to our website at http://www.greenearthinstitute.org/recipes/index.html. There you'll find a ton of great recipes for the vegetable we grow at the farm. Look for recipes entitled "Kid's Corner" which are aimed at getting the most discerning palate to eat their veggies.

“Shrek” Smoothie

1 banana
2 leaves kale, stems removed
2 tablespoons vanilla yogurt
2 cups ice
1/4 cup fat-free hazelnut-flavored nondairy liquid coffee creamer
Make sure you remove the kale leaf from the central stem. Place all
ingredients in blender and blend till smooth.

Variations: Substitute hazelnut and coconut flavors with Christmas pumpkin spice-flavored creamer and vanilla extract or fat-free half & half with blueberry syrup and vanilla extract.

Grilled Summer Squash

2 medium summer squash
Vegetable spray
Dill or lemon pepper
Slice squash lengthwise (into long strips). Spray each side of squash strips with vegetable spray. Place slices directly onto warmed grill. Remove from grill when squash is tender but still firm. Place squash in serving dish and sprinkle with dill and/or lemon pepper.
(Grilled summer squash are also good sprinkled with lemon juice, fresh basil, and red pepper flakes.)

Kid's Blog

Following are on-line journal entries made by children participating in the 2003 Kids Touch the Earth gardening program.

August 03, 2008

Week 8 turned out to be another hot Hot HOT one. There was lots to do in the garden but our energy levels and the thermometer said otherwise. This week the kids helped clear several beds in preparation for fall crops. The last of the lettuce, broccoli and beets were removed and the kids planted pea seeds and new broccoli plants.

On really hot days we helped the farmers with washing beets and turnips. Somehow, sticking your hands in water that is 52 degrees makes a hot, humid day feel downright refreshing! Ahhh! For their help, the campers were rewarded with a refreshing beet and apple salad. Yum!

Other goodies this week included bruschetta, grilled squash, grilled vegetable pizza (cooked on the grill!) and of course, the ever popular Shrek smoothies.

Have a gander at some pictures from this week.

Kid's Blog

Following are on-line journal entries made by children participating in the 2003 Kids Touch the Earth gardening program.

July 29, 2008

Welcome to week 7! Campers helped catch up with some much needed weeding and enjoyed (well, some more than others) many of the tasty veggies we harvested this week. We ate the last of the snap peas, some cherry tomatoes, broccoli, prepared bruschetta and a yummy apple and beet salad. The favorite treat was the Shrek smoothie, made in part with "dino" kale.

Work continued in the butterfly garden on the fantastic fort. This group had a wonderful imagination and during free play time, organized a circus and wild animal zoo. Many enjoyed looking at how much the flowers have grown.

Helping the farmers is always a hit. This week we helped wash turnips. Kids loaded the barrel washer and watched as the dirty turnips tumbled round and round. They were so dirty they needed a little more help after tumbling, so we got to work in the laundry tubs and scrubbed, scrubbed, scrubbed!

On Friday, they embarked on a bug rodeo and enjoyed catching critters (large and small) with insect nets.

Week 6 was the hottest week of the summer to date. The campers were anxious to work in the gardens but the heat and humidity limited weeding and planting in the main children's garden. Time was limited to watering and harvesting vegetables. We instead turned our attention to the hummingbird and butterfly garden where four beds sat dormant, ready for their eager hands.

We first cleared the beds of weeds and rescued several volunteer morning glory vines and "sour grass" (aka wood sorrel). Each bed had a team of "designers" who used a variety of shade loving plants, rocks, logs and other natural materials to design a garden bed. The beautiful results follow in the pictures below.

During Week 5, the kids focused a lot of their energy on rebuilding the fort and keeping the garden free of weeds. Although there were a few who didn't like to weed, they sure enjoyed the eating the veggies that grew in the garden. This week the kids learned about insects and the important role they play in pollinating our vegetables. We enjoyed grilling and eating zucchini and summer squash, making Shrek smoothies and tasting Kelly's zucchini bread. Yum! Take a look at some pictures from this week.

In June, participants in Nature on the Farm had fun exploring and caring for the butterfly and hummingbird garden. They planted peas, beans, tomatoes, leeks and zucchini. They also planted their own "sunflower house" just in case the rascally rabbits weren't frightened by the scare rabbit in the big garden.

The kids also enjoyed playing in and constructing the fort as well as watering the butterfly attracting flowers.

Kid's Blog

Following are on-line journal entries made by children participating in the 2003 Kids Touch the Earth gardening program.

June 30, 2008

Yes the "wildlife" on the farm is fun to watch, but we found out there's a fine line between "cute and cuddly" and downright "destructive!"

It seems that some creatures have entered the garden at night in search of a midnight snack. Not wanting to be outwitted by some "wascaly wabbit," the kids in session two helped to erect what we hope to be effective pest deterrents .

Kid's Blog

Following are on-line journal entries made by children participating in the 2003 Kids Touch the Earth gardening program.

June 24, 2008

The weed warriors passed the baton to a new set of campers on June 16. This week the kids continued to care for both gardens by weeding, watering and warding off hungry critters.

The kids had a blast designing and planting a "tunnel"... made with ree bar, lattice and planted with morning glories. They had to prepare a bed first. Take a look at their hard work.

Campers cleaned several raised beds in the butterfly garden for these morning glories to grow. They built and installed several teepees made from ree bar and bamboo poles for the morning glories to climb on. During the activity, they discovered how yummy "sour grass" tastes. They kept coming back for more all week long!

Children in session one started an experiment to test whether or not the type of soil used for planting has an affect on the growth of a plant. They took 2 sage plants similar size in size and planted one in a pot containing soil from the farm and the other in a pot containing soil from a new subdivision.

The farm soil was "soft, darker and smelled better."

The subdivision soil was "hard, crunchy, rocky and had no smell."

They determined the farm soil was the healthier of the two samples and predicted that it would grow a stronger, healthier plant.

Welcome to our summer camp blog! We hope you enjoy watching our garden grow. This summer, campers and the parents and tots of Nature on the Farm will care for and tend to TWO very special gardens. The Hummingbird and Butterfly garden is home to many varieties of blooming annuals, vegetables, herbs and native woodland perennials. The new children's garden is full of scrumptious, organic vegetables, a sunflower house, morning glory "tunnel" and 2 Three Sisters Gardens. Stayed tuned and watch us grow!

Growing Wonder in a Garden Plot was a description of the 2003 Kids Touch the Earth program that was printed in the September issue of Green Earth Connections.