Germantown’s Farm Park gives kids a taste of gardening
Discovery Fridays, a part of Germantown’s Bobby Lanier Farm Park’s Young Farmers program, ended its summer session with a party — a salsa party. Fresh ingredients, most grown just a few feet away in the park’s community garden, were combined to make the cool summer treat by Mary Phillips, otherwise known as the “Farm Girl.”
Phillips, who is best known for the urban learning farm Roots Memphis, believes it’s never too early to start educating children about where their food comes from.
Discovery Fridays, aimed at 3- to 5-year-olds, is a simplified version of the summer Thursday morning Young Farmers sessions for ages 6 to 12. After a few weeks break, the programs will pick back up in the fall — during the day for preschoolers and after-school on Fri- days for school-age children.
This is only the program’s second summer, said Michelle Johns, program and development coordinator for the Bobby Lanier Farm Park. The Farm Park officially opened in June 2012.
“Last year, the response was really light, and this year we have been at capacity,” Johns said. The preschool class is limited to around 15 children, whereas the older classes have around 20.
Louise Buisseret brought her children Meghan, 2, and Raphael, 5, to all but one of this summer’s classes.
“He (Raphael) really loves it. He has started to ask at dinner when we have things like broccoli, what it grows on. But, his favorite was when they had the lady bugs,” Buisseret said.
At one lesson, Phillips opened a bag of lady bugs on the park’s picnic tables and let them crawl on the
children. Lady bugs, Phillips said, are very good at keeping aphids — harmful pests — out of the garden.
Diana Schmies, a member of the Bobby Lanier community garden, brings her grandchildren whenever she can.
“It’s good for them to see that other people garden, and not just grandma. I think a lot of kids don’t know where their food comes from or even what fresh food is available because you don’t see it on TV or in video games. They want things like Pop Tarts because that’s what they see. This helps correct that,” she said.
Phillips is assisted by Farm Park intern Cierra Martin, who also has a love of farming and sustainable living. Johns is also on hand to help when needed.
“The farm is an education and demonstration park. It’s a direction for our whole world that we can be better stewards of our resources. It’s hard for a lot of people to grasp how to employ these practices in everyday life,” Johns said.
Young Farmers and Discovery Friday classes are $10 per session per child and the fall and spring programs are six weeks long. Advanced registration is required, however participants do not have to attend all six sessions.
For information call 901- 757-7376, 2276 West Street or register online for the Fall program at germantown-tn.gov/registration.
For more information on the Farm Park visit thefarmpark.org.