Preschool’s garden project teaches love for God’s creation
DANIEL CLIFTON • PICAYUNE EDITOR
MARBLE FALLS — Even though they might be separated in age by “a few” years, Bluebonnet Methodist Preschool student Paisley Powell and Highland Lakes Master Gardener Carolyn Kennedy shared something in common for a few minutes: dirty hands.
“I love the way you’re turning the dirt,” Kennedy told Powell, who was churning a little square-plot in a raised garden bed by the preschool campus. “That’s great. Now, let’s see if we can plant a few seeds there.”
Powell, however, did a few more turns of dirt before adding a couple of seeds in the raised bed. But it didn’t matter to Kennedy. She was just glad Powell and the other Bluebonnet Methodist Preschool students were getting some dirt under their fingernails.
The Highland Lakes Master Gardener Association and First United Methodist Church of Marble Falls, where the preschool is located, joined in an effort for the benefit of the preschool students and the church youth. The Master Gardeners, several of whom are members of the church, saw this as a chance to introduce children to gardening.
But it goes a bit deeper as well.
“We want to develop that love and appreciation for God’s creation,” Kennedy said.
She and Marla Leeper led the students through some seed planting April 10. One of the first steps was letting each student plant a lima bean seed in a cup that they could take home. Then most of the children had the chance to plant seeds in several of the raised garden beds nearby.
“For some of the kids, this may be the first chance they’ve had at gardening,” Leeper said. “We hope they go on to love gardening. It’s a great activity for kids and is something families can do together.”
The garden isn’t reserved for the preschool classes either. The church youth will get the opportunity to help in the garden.
“And, who knows,” Leeper said, “it could be something the church members get involved with as well.”
That’s something both Leeper and Kennedy hope happen, but not just with the congregation.
“We’d love to get some volunteers from the community who are interested in helping,” Kennedy said. The volunteers don’t necessarily need to come with a green thumb because the Master Gardeners will help them “grow” one. All that is needed is a willingness to help and learn.
Go to www.burnetcountyhighlandlakesmastergardener.org for more information on the Master Gardeners or call the church at (830) 693-4341 for information on the preschool and garden.
daniel@thepicayune.com
