A new 4-H focus on gardening
Some youths are getting their hands dirty.
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The group of about a dozen children 5-15 is part of a new 4-H project called Great Green Gardeners, a partnership between the Crow Wing County 4-H and master gardener programs.
David Nibbe and his mother Caroline Thursday watered one of the Great Green Gardeners club's garden at the Crow Wing County Fairgrounds behind the grandstand.
The club was started by Maggie Fuller, club leader who works in the University of Minnesota Extension Office in Brainerd, and Debbie Monchamp of Garrison, the club's master garden consultant.
The club's purpose is to teach youths about gardening by having them do it themselves. The 4-H club received partial funding through Central Minnesota Regional Sustainable Partnerships, the Pine and Lake Country Local Foods Workgroup in collaboration with the Region Five Development Commission and the Statewide Health Improvement Program, or SHIP, grant, that aims to help Minnesotans live longer, healthier lives.
Last year 4-H conducted a pilot program that was curriculum-based for a junior master gardener club at the Northland Arboretum.
The club planted a community garden exhibit area at the Crow Wing CountyFairgrounds, located behind the grandstand. The exhibit includes several raised bed gardens that consist of vegetables, fruits and edible flowers. There also are gardens that can be cared for by people who are in wheelchairs.
Fuller said the students are each in charge of what they want to plant and are responsible for their garden. Most of the produce from the gardens will go to the Brainerd food shelf.
Fuller said there are youths who joined the garden club who have never joined 4-H, but who wanted to join the club because they were interested in gardening.
Megan Franzen, 13, who will be a ninth-grader at Brainerd High School South Campus, joined 4-H this year because she likes to garden.
"I get to grow my own plants and do it on my own," said Franzen. "I live with a bunch of animals, we live on a hobby farm and I enjoy being outdoors. Being in this club, I've learned how to take care of my plants better and how fertilizer works."
Franzen's plants for the club include watermelons, bush beans, sweet potatoes and herbs.
Ellie Thompson, 14, who also will be a ninth-grader in Brainerd, has been in 4-H since she was in eighth grade. She said her parents wanted her to join the Great Green Gardeners to be more active in gardening. Thompson said she has done several gardening projects in 4-H and enjoys the flowers best.
Isaac Voss, 10, Deerwood, said he joined the club - his first 4-H club membership - so he could solve two problems.
"There are not many fruits and vegetables in my house that are fresh and my parents told me that I have to be involved in something," said Isaac. "Now I don't have to worry anymore (about these two things)."
Isaac said he grew snapdragons, bell pepper and spicy peppers, broccoli and tomatoes and flowers. Isaac said so far the only thing he hasn't liked about the program are the "annoying weeds." He said before the program he didn't like peas, but now he does.
David Nibbe, 10, Brainerd, said he's in three different programs in 4-H. David said he enjoys the colors of the flowers and seeing the vegetables grow. David said his grandmother is a master gardener and his family does a lot of gardening.
David's mother, Caroline, said they've grown pumpkin and strawberry patches and then the children sell the produce. Caroline Nibbe said the gardens have helped teach her children life lessons, including hard work.
Monchamp said she has gardened for many years, but became a master gardener about two years ago. Monchamp said there is always something to learn about gardening. She said the fun part of the club for the youth is that they get to choose what to plant.
JENNIFER STOCKINGER may be reached at jennifer.stockinger@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5851.