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Young gardeners prepare for next planting cycle.
By Laine Hendricks
As summer approaches, boys in The Salvation Army Adventure Corps in Yakima, Wash., are preparing for another cycle of planting and harvesting. The group’s current garden won a red ribbon at the county fair for a 73-pound giant dill squash.
Throughout the spring, the Adventure Corps meets weekly for a two-hour class on the principles of gardening: preparing the soil, planting and caring for the garden, and, finally, reaping the harvest. After classroom instruction, the boys begin hands-on work in dedicated garden space at the Yakima Corps. Master gardener Doris leads them from classroom study to real-life gardening experience.
“The kids are having an authentic gardening experience,” said Yakima Corps Officer Thomas Morrow. “They are learning about soil, water cycle, transplanting seedlings, propagation, good and bad insects, and how they influence plant growth.”
Last year’s harvest provided vegetables for the Yakima Corps Senior Center lunch program. The group witnessed firsthand how its work benefitted other people in the community.
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