Children's Community Garden Program is Open

The Upper Susitna Food Pantry has begun a new children’s community garden program this year.

Every Tuesday from June 4th through August 6th, kids can learn how to plant and harvest, to identify good and bad bugs, and to build healthy soils. The program runs from 11am to 1pm.

Emily Barron with the Upper Susitna Food Pantry, says the two-hour program will focus on a lesson for the first hour. She is especially excited to teach kids about how organics become compost and how it can be used in the garden.

She says each lesson will be followed by lunch. Kids can expect a healthy sandwich, fresh fruit, and more natural low-sugar foods.

Each student will get a binder to build through the summer. They’ll take the binder home at the end of the program. Barron says she hopes that home school and public school kids will get an opportunity to intermingle and learn together. 

The community garden beds are located at the Church on the Rock at Mile 99 on the Parks Highway. Six of the beds were funded by Impact Alaska, a community outreach program through the Church. Students grew the plant starts for the garden this year. 

Barron says there are 12 other garden beds available for residents if they need a spot to grow vegetables. The group also is looking to grow in containers to expand opportunities. 

Any food grown in the beds for the children’s community garden will go to the Pantry for the clients in need. 

Though targeted for kids aged 6 to 12, Barron says younger kids are welcome with their parents for the children’s community garden program. The program is free and there is no need to pre-register. Kids are welcome to just show up.