This is a sixth month program that is open for children of all ages and their families. This is a garden club. The program begins in April when we plant vegetables in our hydroponic system and dixie cups on the window sills. The success of this program relies on donations from the Friends of Ridgefield Park Library, The Christmas Tree Shop, Home Depot and Lowes.
Once the plants can be put outside, they are put into our greenhouse donated by the Christmas Tree Store. Sadly this was vandalized so I will need to request another donation from the Christmas Tree Store.
Once strong enough plants will be planted by our garden club.
Kids of all ages participated in this program.
Tom made our garden. Supplies donated by the Friends of Ridgefield Park Library. The Caterpillar was also built by Tom. Tires donated by Grand Prize Auto in Nanuet, New York. The Caterpillar garden was maintained by my ESL program.
Children and their families came all summer to maintain the garden. Before we went out to water the garden and weed, we read a book on gardening. After we did our work, I always ran the sprinkler and kids got wet. We went back into the library and enjoyed an ice pop.
In September, we harvest the vegetables. The first year we made vegetable soup.
Note: I put a donation box in the adult department asking for supplies for our vegetable soup such as chicken stock, and pasta. Right before the cooking program, I went to shop rite with a gift card and got extra fresh vegetables to add to our soup. We packaged up the soup into small containers donated by King Grocery store in Hillsdale, New Jersey and we walked it over to our Senior Center. They froze the soup and then gave it out at Thanksgiving.
The second year we made tomato sauce.
In 2018, we made tomato sauce. We only grew tomatoes. Each child took home sauce. Containers donated by Kings Grocery Store in Hillsdale, New Jersey and a bagel company in Emerson, New Jersey.
Note: I had to buy extra tomatoes, tomato paste and other ingredients for my secret sauce.
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