Our goals and objectives for the garden area are:
- to educate the children in growing vegetables, fruit and flowers (a horticultural experience). An affinity to and love of nature, along with a positive environmental ethic, grow out of regular contact with and play in the natural world during early childhood (Chawla, 1988; Wilson, 1993; Sobel, 1996, 2002 & 2004; Wilson, 1997; Kahn, 1999; Kals et al., 1999; Moore & Cosco, 2000; Bixler et al., 2002; Kals & Ittner, 2003; Schultz et al., 2004).,
- to provide a vehicles to train them in business practices (producing goods and selling them). Exposure to natural environments improves children's cognitive development by Children with views of and contact with nature score higher on tests of concentration and self-discipline. The greener, the better the scores (Wells, 2000; Grahn et al., 1997; Taylor et al., 2002).increasing their awareness, reasoning, and observational skills (Pyle, 2002).
- and to enrich their lives by creating a healthy environment. Children with nature nearby their homes are more resistant to stress; have lower incidence of behavioral disorders, anxiety, and depression; and have a higher measure of self-worth.(Wells & Evans, 2003.)Symptoms of children with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) are relieved after contact with nature. The greener the setting, the more the relief. (Taylor et al., 2001). Children who play regularly in natural environments show more advanced motor fitness, including coordination, balance and agility, and they are sick less often (Grahn et al., 1997; Fjortoft & Sageie, 2001).
The 30 children in our center will choose, plant, cultivate, harvest and sell their crops to their parents to learn about how life works, including but not limited to: starting and running a business, profit and loss, how labor and goods are transferred into money, how plants need water and care to grow and reproduce, and pride of a job well done. Children involved in nature are endowed with meaningful and inspiring accounts of how gardening boosts their interest in school and learning, improves their attitudes about eating healthful foods and caring for their body and the environment, helps them develop social skills and self-esteem, and gives them a feeling of community spirit.
The current play area is just grass, without any play equipment and only one maple tree. Adding a fruit, vegetable and flower garden will give the children objectives in their play and enhance the visual beauty of the area. The new garden will be located near the building. Rain water will be collected from the roof runoff to water the garden. A compost barrel, worm bed and tool shed will be placed against the building. Fruit trees, grapevines, raspberry and blueberry bushes will be part of the landscaping in the garden area, also.
With a grant these objectives can be accomplished for our future productive citizens. Many of these children are low income and this opportunity will give them a chance to get ahead in life.
