It has been a tradition for several years for COLM to visit Farmer Sue at the Art Barn.  We always have a FARM-tastic time, and this year was no exception. We started our visit with a tractor ride. 

We toured 'Mr. MacGregor's' garden and Farmer Sue told us about some of the vegetables growing there. 

After the tractor ride, we painted under the trees. We all raised our brushes and affirmed our artistic talents! 

After painting, it was time to hold some chickens and pet the barn yard animals. 

We learned about different types of chickens and all the different colored eggs they lay. Did you know eggs can be white, brown, speckled, green, and even pink? They are also large or small depending on the breed of chicken. 

The children really enjoyed petting and brushing the donkeys, sheep, and goats. We finished up our day with a picnic under the magnolias. Thank you Farmer Sue for a wonderful time! 

Thank you Meg Porter of Meg Porter Photography and Meg and Kate Weddings for the images in this post!

Ready. Set. GROW! The children's garden is a special place where the children at Cross of Life Christian Montessori School come together to plant, tend and sow the benefits of their hard work through out the year. The garden allows the children an opportunity to not only sharpen their practical life skills but to explore the worlds of botany and zoology.

​ Gardening introduces the children to some of the living creatures in the soil, under rocks and on plants. Teaching children the names of the plants, vegetable and flowers, especially those that have a smell or taste allows them to make the connection between what they've grown and the food on their plate. It's a great way to teach respect for even the smallest things.

Ms. Oana and the children discovering a worm. 

It was the first of many worms we found that morning! 

No job is too tough for these guys! Gardening is a tangible and positive way for children to get involved in caring for the environment. 

Weeding and digging helps prepare the raised bed for summer vegetables. 

“Time in nature is not leisure time; it's an essential investment in our children's health (and, by the way, in our own).” 

― Richard Louv, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder

"The land is where our roots are. The children must be taught to feel and live in harmony with the earth." - Maria Montessori 

Along with the fun of getting dirty, gardening helps children learn valuable lessons about patience as they wait for vegetables to grow, responsibility as they see how necessary their care is to the garden, and even loss when flowers die at the end of a season. Children are natural nurturers and understand the importance of caring for plants and other things in the garden. We are so grateful at COLM to have a beautiful garden and amazing volunteers to help us take care of it! 

Many thanks to Meg Porter of Meg Porter Photography and Meg and Kate Weddings for the beautiful images in this post. Check her out on Facebook and give her a 'like'!