We’re almost to the end of the Gardens for Learning Program. I have to say it was a wonderful success! We learned so much from our first year, and this year has definitely grown! The kids had so much fun! We are very thankful for the GFL Grant Program for making this happen, and helping us get the resources we needed to teach these wonderful kids about gardening and everything around it! Thank you to Hunger Free Vt and Enosburg Elementary for providing lunches for the program! Thank you to all who donated toward our cause, the local Sticks & Stuff, Bates, ACE Hardware, people of the community who helped donated plants,garden tools and so much more!

With that being said, we would love to invite our amazing community together and Celebrate the kids and the amazing job they have done this year! August 1st from 2pm-3pm. We will have display’s of what they have learned, garden fresh food and games to play!

First thing we did after lunch was have the children make Invitations to our End of Program CELEBRATION  for the parents. Then Mr.K showed and did a puppet show for them on how Maple Seeds can travel. After the show he showed everyone how t make their own helicopter. When he left we created a carrot craft. Karoline then read them some books, Muncha! Muncha! and Creepy Carrots. Then we all gathered and prepped for snack time. We made Carrot Zoodles cooked/steamed in water, butter, parsley and rosemary. And it was a HIT!

After our lunch we were ready for Bob! He started with reading the kids a book on different types of seed travel, and different types of seeds. He also had one of the kids help him do a demonstration on all the layers seeds have and their growth. They got to dissect big Lima beans and then had them explore different types of seeds in the bins. Bob gave them each a paper cup to decorate before filling it up with dirt and some super grass seed for the kids to water and watch grow! After Bob left, we all walked around the library to collect all the seeds we could and glued them on a graph to see what the kids learned about the different types of travel for seeds. Then we made some seed sponges, and headed inside to make our delicious smoothie!

Like to take your family out on hikes and explore the Vermont Trails? Here at the Enosburgh Public Library we now have Backpacks you can check out. Thanks to a grant from Rise VT- Franklin and Grand Isle Counties, we were able to have these bags ready and set to go for our community.

Whats included in this backpack?

• Rocks and Minerals Field Guide
• Wild Flowers Guide
• Insect Guide
• Birds Guide
• Mammal Tracks and Scat Book
• The Nature Connection Workbokk
• Plant Press w/directions
• Bug Net
• Bug Habitat
• Binoculars
• Magnify Glass
• Journal to write down your adventures
• Tape Measure + Ruler+Tweezers
• VT State Park Pass and More!

So come on down before summer ends, grab a backpack and head on your way to discover whats in your backyard and beyond!

On day 4, Bob Engstrom a.k.a The Worm Whisperer came in to show and teach us a little about bugs and worms! All the kids gathered around his piles of worms, dirt, and bugs. After all the exploration and playing, Bob had them make their own Worm Hotel, layered with sand, dirt, food, and worms! While some kids we’re making their hotels others were playing with the bug sensory bin, filled with dry black beans and pasta bugs! After he left we all sat together to read about Praying Mantis, and created our own praying mantis mask.  We all harvested for our snack and made our own pesto salad dressing.

Another Successful day! While we ate lunch we reminded and went over with the kids on what is good and what is not good for compost. After lunch, the kids gathered and planted beans in a cup. Then, we went around the library to collect some items for our Nature Face craft. Then Mr.K arrived and gave the kids a wonderful puppet show on Erosion! Before we knew it it was time to make smoothies and end a great day!

The kids had fun with Judy for The Summer Reading Program! Started with the book Stick and Stone by Beth Ferry. Then continued on with painting rocks! Stay tuned for next week as we’ll be Rockin’ it out with Panpipes with Mr. K!

We’re looking for Middle and High School Students who would like to earn some community service hours. Sign-up with the library to do Sidewalk Art! Adults are welcome to sign-up too. You must sign-up before July 30th as the art project will start in August to help promote The Enosburgh Welcome Center!

Help Spread the Word!

Another successful day in the books! On day two we all learned about compost. We started with Karoline reading us a book about compost. Discussing the do’s and don’ts. Then we followed our layer compost chart and made compost in a bottle. After, we created our seed clay balls. Made with molding clay seeds and dirt, so they could bring home and plant them! Then all the kids colored in and created their seed life cycle hats.  And of course after every day they weed and water the garden.