Vegetable Gardening

Midsummer is a great time to get our students to experience vegetable gardening - especially our urban youth who think all food originates at the supermarket. There are several entertaining stories about vegetable gardens, and the best "craft" activity is to have the kids plant seeds in a paper cup. Hopefully, many of them can re-plant these in their backyards or in patio pots, but even kids with no "planting" space can grow herbs (like rosemary) on their kitchen windowsills. I have done this activity for no more than ten cents per student. Also, some libraries may be near "urban gardens," cooperative vegetable gardens, that could partner with the library to bring in all the supplies.

Florian, Douglas. VEGETABLE GARDEN.
A rhyming, brief story about a family planting and tending their vegetable garden.

French, Vivian. OLIVER'S VEGETABLES.
Grandpa lets Oliver choose the vegetable to have for dinner each night, from Grandpa's backyard garden.

Wilner, Isabel. A GARDEN ALPHABET.
A rhyming alphabet full of all things related to gardening.

Hall, Zoe. THE SURPRISE GARDEN.
Planting unmarked seeds results in wonderful surprises in the vegetable garden.

Westcott, Nadine B. THE GIANT VEGETABLE GARDEN.
The townsfolk let their vegetables overgrow, in order to win prizes at the Fair.

Root, Phyllis. SOUP FOR SUPPER.
A giant and a small woman vie for the best veggies for their soup.

Lin, Grace. THE UGLY VEGETABLES.
A little girl thinks her mother's Chinese vegetables are ugly until she tastes the wonderful soup they make.

DeRobertis, Barbara. COUNT ON PABLO.
Pablo helps his Abuela sell vegetables at the market in this counting

July 21, 2003