St. John’s Preschool is growing more than just young minds. The children are learning to grow fruits, vegetables, and flowers in St. John’s greenhouse. To show off what they have learned, the preschool held a bake sale last Saturday, proudly showcasing the vegetables they harvested to sell.
In addition to cakes, cookies, and other sweets, the children helped sell what they harvested. The produce included three different types of lettuce, potatoes, bok choy, green beans, snap peas, radishes, turnips, parsnips, carrots, strawberries. Herbs, including thyme, basil, parsley, and chives were also sold. Fresh eggs, (not from the greenhouse!) were also available.
Preschool teacher Lisa Riggs said the greenhouse is a valuable teaching tool. “Using the greenhouse teaches them about growing and harvesting their own food. They learn how plants grow.”
Every Thursday is greenhouse day for the preschoolers and recently they learned about the Praying Mantis as one just hatched babies. The greenhouse is also host to goldfish, salamanders and frogs.
With the bake sale, the children are also learning how to do community service. They helped serve customers and participated in tours of the greenhouse.
Maisyn Harris and Harlo Johnson said their favorite vegetables are carrots and potatoes because it “was fun to get in the dirt and pull them out.” Catherine Wimmer preferred the flowers and fish because they “were beautiful.”
Over 100 people toured the greenhouse that morning, making the event extra special.
(Photos Courtesy of Maurine Roller)