Why I like to garden By Kayla Timpanaro
Last year I was in the Garden Club. I liked when we planted flowers in the courtyards and next to the billboard at the school. We also grew flowers in the greenhouse, which went to the school plant sale. When the club ended I decided to grow my own street garden that people can see when they walk by my house. I entered it in the Suwassett Garden Club street garden competition and I won! So did 30 other people. This year I made a butterfly garden with my sister and my mom. We used recycled materials to make a water holder for the butterflies to drink from. We used cement, a milk jug, a soda bottle, and pieces of glass. We are also making another street garden, you can too! I asked Claudia from the Suwassett Garden Club some questions about making gardens, here are her answers.
1. How did you get the idea for the Suwasset Garden Club street garden competition?
We got the idea from a few places. One idea was from other area towns that have street garden programs, Asharoken being one of them. Also that there are worldwide street garden programs that have been recognized to the point where tourists journey to their areas, to walk their streets, viewing their gardens. We wanted people to enjoy walking our village even more then they do, and this was a great way to bring more interest to our village, though it's not really a competition, as everyone who participates is a winner.
2. Is it important to plant gardens, why?
I feel it's important to plant gardens for several reasons:
a. It's good for the environment, we need to protect and nourish the land for future generations.
b. It brightens people’s day to see them.
c. Reduces the carbon footprint.
d. It is a healthy activity that helps us, and our surroundings.
e. Gives us pride of ownership, growing and nurturing our space.
3. How has gardening played a role in following your dreams?
Gardening has enabled me to make a green space that I enjoy personally: it brings me both peace, joy, and pride of accomplishment. I also enjoy having friends and family over to enjoy it, and in that way helping people who may want to try their hand at it, it's something that everyone can enjoy, and I try to ignite that love of gardening in people who have thought they couldn't do it.
4. What would you tell kids who want to get involved in gardening and make it part of their big idea?
I would tell kids that involving oneself in gardening has so many benefits for themselves, their environment; which effects their future, we need to nurture our environment and green spaces not just for beautification, but also to help sustain our planet. "Every little bit helps” If everyone would do just a little bit, it would make a huge difference in the well being of our world.
Now that's a BIG IDEA! to read more please visit www.gswmu.com
Happy Gardening!
Kayla Timpanaro writes a children's chapter book series with her sister Ava and mom Laura called the Great Story World Mix-Up. To find out more about her books, author school visits and other Big Ideas please visit www.gswmu.com
