In our vegetable and herb garden, the children are actively involved in every step of the process— planting seeds, tending and watering the plants, weeding, and helping to organize the garden spaces. The best part is when it's time to harvest! The children experience the joy of picking fresh vegetables and herbs and tasting the foods they helped to grow. 

Our flock of chickens adds even more excitement to our program. The preschoolers learn how to care for them, gather fresh eggs, and even take eggs home to share with their families. They also have the unforgettable experience of watching baby chicks hatch and grow, and often get the special joy of naming them!

Our flower gardens add beauty and joy to our days as well. Our friends love bringing fresh-cut flowers into the classroom to enjoy, brightening our spaces with colors and scents from the garden. Throughout the summer, families also enjoy the benefits of our gardens and farm life by bringing home fresh vegetables, farm-fresh eggs, and beautiful bouquets of cut flowers. 

We bring those harvests right into the classroom. Together, the children prepare snacks and meals using the vegetables and herbs from our gardens. They've shared colorful salads with fresh lettuces, kales, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, and herbs; grated zucchini for wam, homemade zucchini bread; sliced eggplant to make eggplant parmesan; and chopped basil for delicious pesto. These shared meals make healthy eating exciting and meaningful because the children are involved every step of the way. 

But the chickens aren't just for our preschoolers to enjoy. Our infant and toddler classrooms have large windows overlooking the chicken coop and run. During meals, our youngest friends can watch the chickens, and while playing, toddlers love peeking out the windows to see what the chickens are up to. For many, "chicken" is one of the very first words they learn to say!