Free Kids' Gardening Series At EARTH Center In South Brunswick

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — Summer will be here before we know it, and it’s the right time to encourage your kids to get outdoors, get active and keep on learning.

Children between the ages of 5 and 11 years old are invited to join the Rutgers Master Gardeners at Middlesex County’s EARTH Center for a series of fun gardening workshops this May, June and July. These free sessions will take place in beautiful Davidson’s Mill Pond Park at 42 Riva Avenue, South Brunswick, NJ.

The program will take place on the following dates and involve hands-on projects:

• Saturday, May 12, 11 a.m. to Noon. “Little Sprouts - Seeds in the Garden” This session will focus on seed starting.

• Saturday, June 2, 11 a.m. to Noon. “Good Bugs, Bad Bugs - Pollinators and Insects” This session will explore butterflies, pollinators, and good bugs versus bad bugs.

• Saturday July 21, 11 a.m. to Noon. “Harvesting and Hydrating” This session teaches kids about harvesting produce, such as tomatoes, and the importance of water conservation.

Families can sign their children up for individual workshops or the full series of three.

To participate:

• The series is intended for children between 5 and 11 years old.
• All children must be accompanied by one adult per children’s household.
• As part of the enrollment for the workshops, parents will be expected to sign a photo release form.
• Parents should be aware that activities may involve food consumption. Please let us know if your child has any known food allergies.

Registration is required by the Wednesday prior to each workshop. To register, please call the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Middlesex County at 732-398-5262.

The EARTH Center offers a host of environmental services to the County. Residents can purchase soil test kits, pesticide application test manuals or submit pest and disease samples for evaluation. If you have a question about your personal garden, call the Garden Helpline at 732-398-5220.

The EARTH Center is also home to the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Middlesex County and is part of a nationwide network that brings the research of the State land-grant universities to residents.

For more information on other programs, call 732-398-5260.

Photo provided by Middlesex County.