By Angie Harless, USDA Executive Master Gardener
On May 7, The People’s Garden launched the first workshop in its healthy garden series summer program in DC. This year the summer series was expanded and offers a full range of programming for both kids and adults. “The People’s Garden” Healthy Garden Workshops are open to everyone and demonstrate how easy it is to grow a sustainable garden no matter where you live. Leading experts from within and outside of USDA will lend their experience throughout this growing season to help you create and manage your garden from the ground up.
The Healthy Garden Workshops will primarily be for adults, while the newest edition to the series, Growing Healthy Kids, will be offered for young people. Beginning May 7, the Healthy Garden Workshops will occur rain or shine every Friday from noon to 1 p.m. in the garden or under a tent on the north lawn of USDA’s Jamie L. Whitten building. Each month of the healthy garden series will focus on a different theme: May: gardening from the ground up; June: celebrating pollinators; July: plant diseases; and August: types of gardens. Pre-registration will be required for this series as seats will be limited to 50 participants. To reserve a seat, those interested in participating in the workshop must call (202) 690-3989 to register between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
The Growing Healthy Kids youth series will be hands-on learning programs based upon the Junior Master Gardener curriculum. There are three programs: Plant Pals, Tops or Bottoms and U-B the Judge. Plant Pals will help curious-minded children discover why certain plants are better neighbors in the garden the others. Tops or Bottoms will encourage young gardeners to use their knowledge of plant structures in identifying which part of the plant is eaten. And U-B the Judge will give youth a chance to evaluate fruits and vegetables based on color, texture, taste and smell. Each program is 60 minutes long and will be held outside every Wednesday at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. from May through October. Youth programs are cancelled if it rains. Space is limited to 30 youth and they must be at least 5 years old. Call (202) 708-0082 to register a group for one of the three programs.
The summer program guide is available online. Follow us on Twitter for real-time updates, check out photos and join our Facebook page!
