Y M C A Garden ProjectY M C A Garden Project

HUS 352: Interventions for Children HUS 352: Interventions for Children and Familiesand Families

Instructor: Patricia ClarkInstructor: Patricia Clark Site: YMCA Daycare ProgramSite: YMCA Daycare Program

Nobleboro, MaineNobleboro, Maine

Participant: Tara JohnsonParticipant: Tara Johnson

Advocacy StatementAdvocacy Statement

Providing nutritional education to families and Providing nutritional education to families and supporting parental participation in their supporting parental participation in their children’s daycare program were two goals the children’s daycare program were two goals the YMCA Daycare wanted to implement. YMCA Daycare wanted to implement.

A timeline beginning now will include the A timeline beginning now will include the construction of a vegetable gardenconstruction of a vegetable garden

Its’ seasonal maintenance and harvest can be Its’ seasonal maintenance and harvest can be shared by the combined efforts of YMCA staff, shared by the combined efforts of YMCA staff, children, and families with the addition of children, and families with the addition of volunteer community service.volunteer community service.

The Beginning StepsThe Beginning Steps

Numerous emailsNumerous emails Many phone callsMany phone calls Meetings with staff Meetings with staff

A great need was discovered!A great need was discovered!

““We have been We have been brainstorming about brainstorming about how to involve our how to involve our parents and children parents and children in a nutritional in a nutritional project!”project!”

Our first ‘problem’Our first ‘problem’

The cost of construction for a raised The cost of construction for a raised garden bed would result in postponement garden bed would result in postponement of our project until next spring due to lack of our project until next spring due to lack of available grant monies.of available grant monies.

The Solution!The Solution!

At the advice of Liz Stanley, Horticulture At the advice of Liz Stanley, Horticulture Program Coordinator with the University of Program Coordinator with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension for Knox-Maine Cooperative Extension for Knox-Lincoln and Waldo Counties, we chose a Lincoln and Waldo Counties, we chose a different path….different path….

We would build a LASAGNA GARDEN!We would build a LASAGNA GARDEN!

Our ‘Wish List’Our ‘Wish List’

CardboardCardboard Hay/SawdustHay/Sawdust Newspapers Newspapers Kitchen ScrapsKitchen Scraps ManureManure SeedsSeeds

WISH LIST ITEMS ARRIVE!WISH LIST ITEMS ARRIVE!

We are thankful for community We are thankful for community donations!donations!

BUILDING BEGINSBUILDING BEGINS

A sunny location is A sunny location is chosenchosen

Newspapers and Newspapers and cardboard act as a cardboard act as a mulching/weed block mulching/weed block

Children finally dig in!Children finally dig in!

Children, families, and staff making Children, families, and staff making progressprogress

Ewww horse poop!Ewww horse poop!

Hay and Kitchen ScrapsHay and Kitchen Scraps

TEAM WORKTEAM WORK

See you next spring!See you next spring!