Tucked away in Schenectady’s sprawling Central Park is a garden that cultivates among its young caretakers not only vegetables but also an interest in nature.
That’s in part thanks to Little Diggers, a program offered by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Schenectady County. Starting in late spring and running into summer, the program provides preschool-aged children a chance to learn how to grow vegetables and other plants, from seedlings to harvest time.
“I don't know how many programs in our area are able to offer this type of gardening program for kids at such a young age,” said Angie Tompkins, the community horticulture educator.
She began the program 14 years ago after noticing a need in the area.
“We started the program in a really small space here at the Sustainable Living Center,” Tompkins said.
Photo provided. A member of the Little Diggers program waters the garden at the Sustainable Living Center in Central Park.
Over the years the group has expanded the space, creating a children’s garden with a pollinator garden, birdhouses and a reading nook made from the branches of a willow tree.
“We were doing many of the same things that we still do today, but now that we have a larger space to work in we've had more opportunity to expand the program,” Tompkins said.
Each year's group is small, capped at a dozen kids.
“That gives us the opportunity to really work hands-on with the kids,” Tompkins said.
It’s a five-session program, with classes held every other week so the children can care for their plants throughout the season.
“We want kids to have the opportunity to see the garden from the start all the way until the end,” Tompkins said. “The very first class we cover is all about seeds and seed investigations. So we learn about where seeds come from.”
While there is structure to the program, there’s also room for kids to ask questions about things that might be found in the garden.
Photo provided. Preschoolers harvesting carrots at the Sustainable Living Center in Central Park as part of the Little Diggers program.Â
“If they discover something in the garden that they find really interesting or exciting, we'll let them go with that. If we're digging and replanting and we find a worm, we'll spend a few minutes looking at it and talking about it, why it's important in the garden,” Tompkins said.
Throughout the summer the kids can also care for the garden outside of classes.
“That is their garden to take care of. Nothing else happens in that space. So they get to see all their plants grow over the five [sessions], hopefully from the beginning all the way to harvest,” Tompkins said.
Volunteers with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Schenectady’s Master Gardener program will also help care for the gardens.
Photo provided. Preschoolers harvesting radishes at the Sustainable Living Center in Central Park as part of the Little Diggers program.Â
Some children return to the program for several summers, and one previous Little Diggers graduate is returning to volunteer.
“I think what I would hope is that the class would just plant that seed of interest in gardening and a love of being outside, and learning where their food comes from and appreciating the food that they grow from the garden,” Tompkins said.
Little Diggers starts May 14 and runs on every other Tuesday through July 9. The sessions are from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Enrollment is $100, and children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Those who can’t be part of the program can take advantage of the children’s learning garden at the Sustainable Living Center.
“Families that are at the park visiting are welcome to come in and walk around and explore. We have some self-guided activities, [and] you don't have to be enrolled in a program to come and look at the garden. You can come and do a treasure-hunt activity. We also have a couple of other self-guided activities through the garden,” Tompkins said.
For information, visit schenectady.cce.cornell.edu.
Photo provided. Preschoolers watering their garden at the Sustainable Living Center in Central Park as part of the Little Diggers program.Â
Photo provided. Preschoolers planting in their garden at the Sustainable Living Center in Central Park as part of the Little Diggers program.Â
Photo provided. A member of the Little Diggers program waters the garden at the Sustainable Living Center in Central Park.
Photo provided. A member of the Little Diggers program waters the garden at the Sustainable Living Center in Central Park.
