Spring is finally in the air. Bulbs are poking up through the ground and the birds have started to make themselves heard again. It has been a hard winter and it is great to feel the slightest bit of warmth in the air. We have been thinking about the garden a lot over the winter. We really want to make it a bigger part of the program at Camp Kintail. So much so that for the first time we have a full time program position specifically for the garden. No pressure Shea, but you are setting the standard for years to come, so aim high!
There are lots of learning opportunities for campers and students with a well-planned garden. Kids can learn all sorts of things about how they can grow plants in a wide variety of ways and locations, how the plants get the nutrients they need, how the weather and wildlife affect the garden and what a garden needs from us to really thrive. We are planning to create several themed areas of the garden to showcase different ideas and methods of growing and supporting plants in a garden. Our hope is that the garden produces lots of produce, provides great educational value and adds further beauty to the Camp Kintail site.
I, personally, am looking forward to the time when the ground has drained and the nights aren’t frosty so that we can plant our garden and watch the new life burst from the ground just a short time later. It is always a special time when you see those first shoots break through the soil and start to reach for the sunlight. Soon enough we will be enjoying fresh produce from our own garden as a regular part of our meals at Camp Kintail.