“Oooh! The colors of the corn remind me of sea glass!” one student said to another as she sorted through all different types of vegetable seeds.
Another pinched a bunch of tiny carrot seeds between his fingers to release the aromatic oils. “This smells like pepper!”
Local fifth-grade students recently worked their way around a “Discovery Table” to investigate different aspects of gardening before starting a learning unit on green living. Grow lights, different varieties of seeds, potting mix, seed catalogs and even worm castings were on full display, introducing kids to the many aspects of gardening.
While it’s so gratifying to help young people learn about gardening, the truth is, not everyone grew up with lessons like these in school and still may want to learn. From cardiovascular benefits to improved mood, numerous studies outline the many benefits of gardening for adults, particularly those 65 and older.
To help get more people growing their own food, which can help offset high food prices, the Schuylkill County Penn State Extension Master Gardeners and Pottsville Salvation Army are sponsoring a Seed to Supper program in March and April.
The Seed to Supper program is a free comprehensive gardening program geared toward training new adult gardeners in the community so they can grow a portion of their own food.
The program consists of six classes held on Mondays from March 23 through April 27 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Salvation Army, located at 400 Sanderson Street, Pottsville.
To commit to the six classes and sign up, registration for the program is required.
For more information, please contact Salvation Army representative Betty Barrett at 570-622-5252 or email her at betty_barrett@use.salvationarmy.org or contact Penn State Master Gardener representative Judy Van Kuren at 717-270-4391 or email her at jpv5323@psu.edu.
For more information, visit https://pennstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3O5yvvnLazszHaC
Participants who sign up for and attend all six classes will receive free seeds and other garden start-up supplies.
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