19 Vegetable Beds Allow Danbury Children to Learn Useful Lessons by Planting, Cultivating, Tending to Gardens

Danbury, CT — The Regional YMCA of Western Connecticut is proud to announce that they now have three active vegetable garden sites in Danbury and Bethel that provide children and families opportunities to eat local, fresh produce.

Gardens at the Children's Center, Pembroke Elementary School and Ellsworth Avenue School engage numerous helpers during the summer months from the Danbury Garden Club, as well as summer campers.

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The YMCA Children's Center in Bethel currently has 16 vegetable beds that students tend during the summer season which provide campers with enrichment activities in plant science, nutrition, reading, writing and math. Parent cooking classes hosted throughout the summer allow families to use crops harvested from the beds.

At Pembroke Elementary School in Danbury, there are 6 beds created by 25 children during the spring in which students learned how to grow potatoes in potato sacks.

Nearly 100 children at Ellsworth Avenue School helped plant and tend to 13 vegetable gardens. Amy D'Orio, a nutrition teacher, master gardener and YMCA member, will visit Ellsworth Avenue School for a garden education program three this summer.

Students work with log journals, plant, label, water, weed and harvest vegetables. They also take part in nutrition lessons, research recipes and learn how to apply lessons learned at home.

Sign up for the Regional YMCA's "Garden to Table" events held at the Regional YMCA's Children's Center by calling Nicole at (203) 744-4890. The program is offered by Heather Feenan, Garden Coordinator, and Maureen Farrell, Registered Dietitian.

• Monday, June 27, 5:30 to 7 p.m.
• Tuesday, July 12, 5:30 to 7 p.m.
• Monday, August 1, 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Free babysitting is provided for the dinners and seating is limited. The event location is 57 Grassy Plain Street, Bethel.