Purchase
Area Master Gardener Association
(PAMGA)
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(PAMGA) |
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Life Sciences Class In conjunction with McCracken County 4-H and the Harrison Street Baptist Church, Master Gardeners launched an abbreviated summer version of their award-winning "Plant a Seed" curriculum on June 14. Week 1 A dozen urban
kids traveled to the Demonstration Garden where they were introduced to various
methods of plant propagation. With a
Participants also got a taste of planting seeds in the ground. At
To incorporate aspects of "healthy living" into the garden visit, the kids took part in a strawberry taste test in which they compared the flavor of homegrown Kentucky berries from the local farmer's market with those grown in California. The California berries carried the day. As an extra special treat, the kids were able to see bluebird eggs in the bluebird houses placed around the Demo Garden. Before leaving the garden the children feasted on strawberry shortcake and lemonade. Week 2 Week 2 featured a visit to Schmidt Farms, a family run orchard, farm and
produce market in McCracken
County. Owner Charlie Thurman lead the participants through the fields and
market for a first-hand look at a working
After sampling apple cider it was time to get out of the sun and learn about
watermelon. The kids learned there are lots of methods for selecting a
ripe melon. Some people favor plugging, some are thumpers, and then some
people rely on a piece of straw from a broom to pick the best melon.
Earlier in the day, Master Gardeners
(Diane
Carmain, Bill & Carol Baugh, Carolyn Guerin, Norita Clements,
Week 3 In Week 3 we focused on bugs, bees and birds. All three B's (plus
butterflies) are
important
Dr. Doug Johnson, an entomologist from the University
We took a holiday break and did not meet the week of July 4. Week 4 We reconvened with nine students on July 12 for our final session. Two
days of torrential downpours and threatening skies that afternoon caused us to
The Summer Plant a Seed curriculum didn't focus solely on growing plants. We spent a good amount of time focusing on healthy living and healthy eating too. One fact stressed was the origin of food. While it may be purchased at a grocery, convenience store or produce market, bread, fruit and vegetables actually begin their life cycle somewhere on a farm or perhaps in an area orchard. The tasty treat on closing day was a build-your-own fresh fruit parfait. The children layered peaches, strawberries, bananas and pineapple chunks with yogurt, granola and whipped cream. For some participants it was their first time to taste yogurt. One young man was certain he didn't like peaches but after being coaxed into trying a slice he decided they were pretty good and went back for seconds. A refreshing, healthy dessert after an afternoon of planting flowers and outrunning raindrops.
Here's a photo of the participating children and Master Gardeners and the newly enhanced planting at the front of the church.
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Purchase Area Master Gardener Association, 2705 Olivet Church Road, Paducah, Ky 42001 270/554-9520 FAX 270/554-8283 www.pamga.org |
helping
hand from eight Master Gardeners (Shirley Edwards, Bill & Carol Baugh, Bob &
Norita Clements, Carolyn Guerin and Carol Ullerich) and Horticulture Extension Agent Dava Hayden,
the children divided into four teams to take stem
selection
of flower seeds into trays of vermiculite.
Master
Gardeners will tend the seeds and seedlings during
the five week
program.
At the end of the program, the children will take home the flowers they
propagated and watched grow throughout the summer. Repeated heavy rains
and winds took a toll on the seeds the first week. 
the
third station
each team cultivated a row of unbroken ground using the rototiller
and then planted calendula,
sunflower and marigold seeds. During each garden visit the children will
observe the growth of their flowers. 
farm.
The group saw a working beehive and later tasted local honey. They saw
tomatoes -
both
on the vine and ready to be set in the field for a fall crop. They tasted
banana peppers right off the vine with some "hot" results.
and Carol Ullerich)
gathered at the Extension Office with Hort Agent Dava Hayden and prepared
a variety of fresh vegetables for the kids to taste. We fixed Hawaiian
beets; a saute' of
squash, green peppers and onions; steamed broccoli with
cheese; cabbage with sunflower seeds and raisins; and honey mustard dipping
sauce with carrots and pretzels. And, of course, watermelon for dessert.
As an incentive for tasting everything on his/her plate, we used the lure of Old
Fashioned Candy. While tasting the various foods, the participants
discussed what they liked and the foods that were new to them or prepared in a
different way. Some of the kids learned they liked foods that once thought
they didn't want to eat.
pollinators in the garden. We also recapped the seed sowing
project from Week 1.
Beekeeper
Annie Broyles provided a primer on honeybees. The kids rolled
beeswax candles, tasted pollen and learned about the life cycle of bees. 
of
Kentucky Research Station at Princeton, was a real hit with the kids since he
brought a variety of tropical friends with him including a millipede, a brown
recluse spider and a huge cockroach. The
children were assured all the
insects he brought for show-and-tell were strictly plant-eaters
and
had no interest in humans. Dr. Johnson started by quizzing the kids about how insects
differ from other animals: three body sections (head, thorax and abdomen);
two sets of wings; antennae with which to smell, etc. Each child was
permitted
to touch each crawling specimen. He stressed the
importance of seeking medical attention if bitten by a brown recluse spider.
The shrieks and eeks from the bug tent were audible throughout the afternoon.
Two other featured insects were a tarantula and a New Guinea Walking Stick.
the "bird" information. He walked
the kids through the garden to one of the bluebird houses on the property.
Inside, the kids were able to see baby hatchlings.
step
lively in order to enhance the plantings
at
the front of Harrison Street Baptist Church before rain settled in again.
The children incorporated into the church landscape the sweet potato vine,
begonias and coleus they propagated during Week 1 of the
At
left, Carolyn Guerin, a Master Gardener since 2005, explains the proper way
to plant flowers: dig a hole, place the flower after separating the roots,
cover the roots with soil, tamp, water, and then fluff the mulch. 
