This post is devoted to the Easter Egg Radishes ready to harvest in the Hershey Children’s Garden vegetable patch. I cannot wait to share them with some little green thumbs.

I often get the question: what are some easy, kid-friendly seeds to grow? Well, here is a short list:

• Sunflowers
• Any bean
• Corn
• Wheat
• Cotton
• Any squash, cucumber or pumpkin
• Watermelon
• Of course, radish

Now, why is the Easter Egg Radish one of my favorites? Well, first of all, the radish tends to mature within 21-30 days (so you can grow several crops in one season). Second, the seeds are large enough to handle. Third, the plants have large enough plant parts that you can talk about what grows above ground and what grows below ground. Lastly, with Easter Egg Radish, you never know exactly what color you are going to pull out of the ground. How cool is that?

Posted by Josh Steffen 

Godzilla in the Garden?

Yes, my heart officially stops beating for two months every spring as I watch little plants emerge and little feet converge. One law of physics I know is that two bodies cannot occupy the same physical space at the same time. Plant stems poking their heads above the soil line must feel much like the little people peering up at the feet of Godzilla as he comes stomping through New York.

Just in case you have not noticed, kids don’t use a "garden" like adults do. Adults love big pretty vistas, and kids love the ant crawling on the sidewalk. Adults walk past and comment on how wonderful the garden looks, while kids run straight for the object of their desire (regardless what might be in their "path").

I discovered that telling kids "no" in the Garden does not work (for very long). Asking a child not dig here or there (especially right where I sowed seeds) is like asking the big Hollywood lizard to not smash cars or pick up helpless pedestrians. 

So, what do I do? I change my mindset, place physical barriers and distract them.  I must first remember my user. Second, I place bamboo stake and twine fencing around certain areas that come to about waist height on older children. Last of all, I distract them. "Oh, cool, do you hear what I hear? What is that over there?"

Posted by Josh Steffen 

Evaluation

I have been writing a series of posts about eight principles of education integrated into the design and activities of Hershey Children’s Garden and how you can use these principles with your little green thumbs.

Principle number eight: observe, learn and evaluate. I personally need to intentionally cultivate a habit of constant learning. My default mode is to work to set something up, make sure it is "functioning" and then forget about it. But how do I know the activity, garden feature or planting design worked? How do I know? I know by stepping back and observing. Hershey Children’s Garden works, because the Garden staff seeks new approaches and new methods. I learn by observing how kids are actually using Hershey Children’s Garden and then adapt what I do by approaching the world as they do.

I can say one thing with certainty - Working with kids in a garden is never boring. 

Posted by Josh Steffen

Adult Interaction

I have been writing a series of posts about eight principles of education integrated into the design and activities of Hershey Children’s Garden and how you can use these principles with your little green thumbs.

Principle number seven: You are critical to your child’s learning experience. In fact, you may be the most important element of your child’s learning experience. I have found that kids gain a deeper meaning from what they see if they have adult interaction. Young visitors learn a lot from just playing in Hershey Children’s Garden. Yet, instilling wonder and fascination, the bedrock of lifelong learning, only comes when we light the fire. This is why knowledgeable and enthusiastic garden staff members are critical to the success of what the designers of Hershey Children’s Garden intended. Staff members become part of the experience itself.

You may not feel very comfortable conveying "knowledge," because you are not into the science thing.  Don’t worry.  It is not knowledge, but rather fascination that holds the greatest importance. If you are into art or the social sciences, start there with your children. There is plenty of beauty, geometry and anthropological layers to our interactions with nature.

Posted by Josh Steffen

I thought I would take a break from our little mini-series on the eight principles employed in the design and activities of Hershey Children’s Garden to shamelessly plug Cleveland Botanical Garden’s new program series, BotaniCool School.

Through BotaniCool School programs, we want the world of the Garden to come alive as children discover the many wonders found in nature. Each program weaves stories, hands on experiences and make-and-take activities into a first-rate event for youth and family.

Starting this Saturday, March 29, parents and their Little Buds (ages 3-5) learn their letters and numbers through their encounters with various garden spaces. Families can sign up for a single class or the entire three class series. Then, this summer, look for a Barnyard Bash for Little Buds, and three separate programs for Big Sprouts (ages 6 and up). Big Sprouts can look forward to a really fun list of programs, including:

• A Plant Safari 
• Apples, Bananas and Carrots oh my!
• The Journey of Your Dinner

Stay tuned for further details coming soon!!!

Posted by Josh Steffen