Sweetland Community Garden in Winslow was recently the recipient of a $675 grant in partnership with the Winslow Public Library to help fund an afterschool program for kids in the community.
The grant, awarded by the Arizona Center for Afterschool Excellence (AzCASE), is intended to further the experience of students outside of the time spent in school. According to AzCASE, school aged children spend 80 percent of their waking hours outside of school. Monies from the grant have been used to build raised garden beds and to purchase seeds and supplies for the children’s lessons.
The program at Sweetland entitled, The Garden and Soil Science Club, has met each Thursday this month with the intention of teaching young people about gardening in Winslow. Program Director Linda Chambers said, “We have had anywhere between four and eight children each week.” The children have planted green beans in raised beds, learned of different patterns in which to plant seeds and the benefits of each, and eaten fresh vegetables directly from the many beds currently growing at Sweetland. They were also treated to a lesson on how to make planters from recycled newspaper presented by Minnie Ohlsen of the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Office.
The children have explored the benefits of worms to organically grown produce. Chambers told the children, “The nutrients from the waste of the worms is very good for the plants and when they move around they aerate the soil, which also helps the plants grow.” Ten-year-old Persephone Smith revealed that he understood the lesson when he spoke up and said, “Worms help the plants grow strong!”
Chambers looks forward to the continuation of the after-school program. “This will be 10 to 12 weekly sessions of learning and activities. We are so excited about this opportunity to share our interest in gardening,” she said.
The Sweetland Community Garden is thriving. Gardeners rent beds to grow their produce and plan to show off their efforts this summer. They will be a part of the garden tour during the City of Winslow event, A Midsummer’s Day on Aug. 11.
Kids are encouraged to take part in the club, which meets at 5:30 p.m. on Thursdays at the Sweetland Community Garden located at the east end of Winslow off Second Street near the 911 Memorial Park or contacting the Winslow Public Library at (928) 289-4982.
The grant is funded by the Arizona Governor’s Office for Children, Youth and Families, the C.S. Mott Foundation, Cox Communications and the Arizona Department of Education.
