Some consider gardening to be quite a challenge in the town of Jackson. With our variable spring weather, it is not easy to know when to plant vegetables. The Pre-Kindergarten Outdoor Explorers are up for the challenge! Throughout the spring, the Pre-Kindergarteners have divvied up soil, gingerly placed vegetable seeds into biodegradable starter pots and taken turns watering our four flats of vegetables on a daily basis. Before beginning this intensive project, we asked the Outdoor Explorers, “What do we need to grow our vegetables?”

“We need water.” –Benjamin
“And dirt.”- Wilder
“You have to rake and water and you need some sun to make flowers.” -Adyn
“You need lots and lots of sun and water. You have to pour, pour, pour every day!” -Madeleine
“You need some seeds to grow flowers.” –Sophie
“When its cold out, then the flowers would die. We need to water and to water all night.” –Grady
“The rule of the flowers is: Be careful when you run!”-Will
“If you pour too much water they will die, so you need a little water.” -Brynn
“But some plants like a lot [of water]. You give them a lot of water if they like it.” -Caspian

Next, we headed to the green house, where friends shared their observations and thoughts.
“It [a zucchini seed] looks like petals from a sunflower.” –Lucy
“They [spinach seeds] look like little rocks.” -Jack
“I’m a really good gardener!” -Brynn
“These [cilantro seeds] are very small. You have to be very careful so none of them fall out.” -Josh

Now that many of our seeds have begun to sprout, the children continue to remind one another of their important responsibilities.
“You know, plants do need love from the sun.”- Josh
“We should take them outside today!” –Wolfi

Please feel free to swing by the Pre-K play yard with any inquiries for the Explorers about their gardening skills and what they are working on in the soil for the remainder of the spring!