Winterthur Garden Blog

The following was written by Garden & Estate Intern Emma Relei. 
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Early every Saturday morning, families begin to roll up to the Brown Horticulture Learning Center at Winterthur. In front of the building, bordered by billowing catmint and a row of vintage greenhouses, over 40 garden beds lay bursting with life. Despite the early hour, young children are full of excitement as they reach their individual patch. Ripening tomatoes, developing eggplants, unruly cosmos, vibrant lettuce and coiling beans flourish in front of their eyes. Observing the growth from the previous week, shouts of giddy delight can be heard all around:  

Dad! We can cook radishes with dinner tonight!

Wow, my garden has so many weeds. It’s adorable!

It is like a forest of zinnias!

Through a child’s eyes

How is it that just a little bit of soil, sun and water are all it takes to grow a plant from an insubstantial seed? One might also ask how a little bit of soil, sun and water are enough to spark a child’s sense of awe and wonder. In the garden, so many lessons are sown and so many memories are reaped. As an intern, these bright and early Saturday mornings have become some of the fondest moments of my time here at Winterthur.

When first arriving in May for my internship, I was anxious for the privilege to learn under experienced and knowledgeable horticulturists. Plant identification, landscape design and garden cultural practices were all courses included in the intern schedule. Yet, above all, I was most eager to be involved with the Kids Grow program. The thought of helping children to plan, sow, tend and harvest their own vegetable gardens completely captivated my heart. However, while assisting with teaching, I had no idea how much I would learn in return.

Unruly cosmos

Kids Grow is a free summer course for children, ages 6 to 14, of Winterthur’s member families. This year nearly 40 children from 15 different families participated. Not only do the kids care for their own garden plots, but there are numerous educational activities, as well. From flower arranging to gourd painting, every week’s activity is slightly different from the last.

With row upon row of individual raised beds, this is a community vegetable garden of sorts. Every patch is unique. Some children have meticulous attention to detail. Others are brimming with creativity. Some painstakingly plant one seed at a time in a perfect row. Others spill the entire contents of their seed packet in a single spot (and two weeks later begrudgingly have much thinning to do). Each garden patch reflects the child who cares for it. A wonderfully made and grown personality shines through in every marigold, eggplant and tomato arrangement.

Watering station

We have all heard the saying, “You reap what you sow.” If a little hard work and effort are sown in, much can be reaped out, right? Well…garden planning does not always guarantee a bountiful harvest. Poor weather, old seed, pesky critters or encroaching weeds are a few of the many things that can cause problems for even the most skillful gardener. There is always much trial and error. Yet something is always reaped, vegetable or naught. Growth is a miracle, whether a tiny seed or a child’s knowledge. In fact, at Kids Grow we are nurturing more than just a garden. Families are raised up and inspired to garden together at home. Children are encouraged to learn and appreciate the world around them. Character and self-esteem are cultivated in down-to-earth conversations (literally). A community is grown up from the grass roots.

So…at the end of the day, if you were to ask me, “Emma, what did you learn while working with Kids Grow?” I might tell you that I learned how heat tolerant carrots are not really a thing, despite what the seed packet may say. More likely, I would report that sowing seeds in good soil reaps countless blessings. This summer I learned to keep a sense of childlike wonder—where weeds are adorable and zinnias grow into flower forests. I learned that growth, whether of plants or knowledge or relationships, develops confidence. Perhaps most importantly, I learned that gardening is more than a horticultural science. It is an act of patience and love.

Families gardening in their plots

It has been a learning experience for which I am eternally grateful. This summer we sowed beans, sunflowers and radishes. Little did we know that family memories, cherished moments of discovery and sweet friendships would also be reaped along with all our veggies. I can joyfully say that our harvest is plentiful this year. While our gardens provided abundant crops, our hearts are no less than overflowing.

See below for more photos from this year’s Kids Grow program!