A Summer Well Spent in the Garden

From designing for animals, learning about the wonders of pollinators, eating chocolate truffles, and making handpainted birdhouses –– this week was one to remember. We spent time discussing the benefits of companion planting, understanding how to make natural fertilizer, and talking about the importance of insects in our ecosystems. Taking the skills they’ve learned within the last four weeks, each camper utilized worksheets to write out their final design ideas. Between planning, we managed to make banana bread and chocolate truffles (which yes… made a crazy, but fun mess). During D.I.Y time, we went to the garden to conduct our final observations of each camper's sprouts and the food we grew during five weeks. We were able to harvest tomatoes and revel in the beauty and hardwork that went into our garden space. The campers really impressed Emma and I with their knowledge of insects in the garden such as bees, dragonflies and wasps, while also identifying garden pests such as aphids. We couldn't be more proud!

As the week came to a close, the campers spent numerous hours finishing their final permaculture designs. Equipped with new and exciting tools, each camper demonstrated their creative abilities and shared amazing designs with their fellow campers. I was blown away by the presentations and the level of care and imagination that went into each design. The campers celebrated with cupcakes, mochi and juice to commemorate an amazing summer together. I will always cherish my time spent with this wonderful group of kids. Thank you for all you taught me!

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