Unity Gardens starts new gardening program for kids

As the weather starts warming up some kids in South Bend are preparing to plant their own food at a community garden in South Bend.

Unity Gardens is offering a free after school program for kids interested in growing their own plants and taking them home.

The staff and volunteers aren’t just teaching the mechanics of nature, they’re helping students learn about their own physical and emotional needs by examining the needs of plants.

Unity Gardens is a network of community gardens free-to-eat, grow and plant. And now they’re welcoming kids four times a week to learn which plants are essential for the environments they live in.

“We field questions from them. We go out and do different adventures outside. Inside we’ll talk about different things. We have like garden bingo we’ll play.” Selina Alcantar

Unity Gardens Outreach and Events Coordinator said.

Twice during the week and both days of the weekend, kids between the ages of 8 and 16 have been growing their own herbs, seeding their own trees, making bug hotels and learning the value of organic food.

“So the kids who come in the neighborhood regularly, we’ve been giving them a little sheet to get signed by their parents, letting them have contact information for each parents in case of emergency’s.” Alcantar said.

While they’re interacting with the plants in the garden, they’re also learning that nature can teach lessons about self respect and other values that apply to relationships with each other and the environment.

“We have a couple of kids with seeds growing. So, they’ve been coming and checking it, because we’re growing our seeds right now as well. So we have our heat mats out and our lights on. So the kids are coming and seeing their little sprouts starting to sprout. And one of the things we tell them is you know they need specific growing conditions for getting better and that’s why even like people and little sprouts like you need growing conditions to get better like respecting each other, respecting the space, respecting ourselves, treating our selves nicely. Just like the sprouts need water and light and warmth in order to grow too.” Alcantar said.

The schedule for the after school program is fluctuating as the season changes, and Unity Gardens asks that you call their number to check scheduling for each week.