The weather is warm, the sun is shining, and the children at Haven House were thrilled to recently plant their very own vegetable garden. “One little girl repeatedly told me how much she loves gardening and can’t wait for our plants to grow,” said Lauren Wogick, Children’s Program Recreational Aide at Haven House.
Lauren spearheaded the development of the vegetable garden. We asked her to tell us more about how the idea for the garden came about, and why it is important for the children at Haven House.
How did the idea for the garden develop?
I personally love the outdoors and gardening. I wanted to incorporate that into our program to help teach the children about the importance of taking care of our Earth, as well as how fun it can be to grow your own food.
We were able to use gift card donations to get some of the items for the garden such as plant pots, soil, and seed starting kits that we used for starting our own seedlings in our playroom during winter. The vegetable and herb plants were acquired through our lovely donors.
What types of plants were planted?
We have a variety of tomatoes, peppers, and lettuce, as well as basil & parsley. I also transferred a couple small cucumber seedlings that we started in the playroom a few weeks ago. We have some beautiful Marigold flowers, as well as some Begonia flowers.
How did the kids respond to this activity?
The children who were available to help were mostly of younger ages, and put in such an effort! It was wonderful to see them play in the soil and use the gardening tools to help dig holes and transfer the plants!
Why do you think the children responded so positively to this gardening activity?
I think the gardening activity was a wonderful way for the children to be able to “play in the dirt” while feeling like they were contributing to something that they will be able to see grow. I could tell they felt that their efforts were valued and useful when planting the vegetables and learning how the transfer process works.
Are there any therapeutic benefits to the gardening?
Yes! Gardening is wonderful for the soul of all ages. Ecopsychology is gaining more significance these days, and research continues to prove how exposure to nature can improve human well-being in all ages. The benefits go on and on – gardening involves physical activity as well as exposure to nature and sunlight!