Accokeek Announces New Gardening Program Just For Children

Contact: Kathy Talbot
Phone: 301.283.2113 ext. 32
Email: ktalbot@accokeek.org

NATURE NUTS
3rd Tuesday of each month, 11:00 a.m. to Noon
April through October
Education Center, Rain or Shine
$5.00 Members, $6.00 Non-Members
Limited to 15 Children, Ages 3-5
Registration Required

This fun-filled hour of exploration at the National Colonial Farm's Museum Garden is the perfect setting to learn about the wonders of nature. Designed for children ages 3-5, children will hear a story, create a craft project, and go on an outdoor adventure. Each month has a different theme, such as Earth Day or Rain Gardens.

The Museum Garden is an educational garden designed for learning about the crops of Maryland, and how these crops relate to both the natural environment and the people of many cultures. In this small garden, there are hundreds of different vegetables and herbs. Some were garden plants brought here from cool areas of Europe and were treasured by the English settlers. Others originated in Africa and were known to African-Americans who played a large part in the agricultural history of Maryland, sometimes as slaves and then as farmers and farm laborers.

There are a number of interesting points to be considered when visiting the Museum Garden:

Heirloom crop varieties are grown and their seed is saved to preserve priceless genetic diversity.

In some places, modern varieties of crops are grown adjacent to heirloom varieties to demonstrate plant biodiversity and how people have selected and developed crop varieties to fit the changing needs of farmers and consumers.

The main part of the garden is divided into three sections: "Crops of the Americas," "Crops Brought from Europe" and "Crops Brought from Africa." There are also smaller beds planted in groupings of specialty herbs and flowers, medicinal, and culinary and plants used for dye and sundry purposes.

The crops in each of the larger plots are cultivated differently, to suggest variations in cultivation practices that may have been used by the different peoples who originally grew the crops. The crops of the Americas are grown in hills as the native peoples of this region grew their crops. The crops from Europe are grown in raised beds in straight rows to note gardening trends in that part of the world. The crops of Africa are grown in different patterns including a circle, as is done in some parts of Africa to this day.

"We are excited to be offering a children's gardening program this year. Nature Nuts will allow children to learn about the environment in a hands-on way, and they'll each take home a craft project as a memento of their day," says Kathy Talbot, Manager of Special Events and Training at the Accokeek Foundation. Themes will vary monthly and each program will provide a truly unique and engaging learning experience.

Please contact Kathy Talbot at ktalbot@accokeek.org or at 301.283.2113 to register. Please note that children must be accompanied by an adult.