Whether kids are the picky eaters who sniff at vegetables on their forks, or if they’re always on the go and need something quick, it can be difficult for parents to get kids all the nutrients they need for their growing bodies.
That’s why the Lompoc Library partnered with the CalFresh Healthy Living UC Cooperative Extension Education Programs to create the summer garden-to-kitchen workshops—a program that connects kids to Lompoc’s community garden and teaches them to make recipes, said Lompoc Public Library Youth Services Manager Jessica Jackson.
“In developing a new program series, we wanted to bring in different avenues for thinking about plants, and stories are a great way to introduce kids to planting and eating,” Jackson said.
Jackson selected books (written in both English and Spanish) based on food or gardening to read to kids ages 8 to 12, and after the story time the kids will make recipes based on the books they read as well as receive their own seedlings to take home and tend.
“My hope is that the children who participate will gain confidence in learning more skills and have a positive experience with learning these new skills,” she said. “I want to add that life is all about lifelong learning and developing interests and hobbies. This brings an experience for [kids] that can act as a launching pad to explore more with cooking and gardening.”
Each session focuses on a new book and recipe. The first class on June 15 followed Alicia’s Fruity Drinks and kids made aguas frescas and got to take home watermelon seedlings.
Lola Plants a Garden will be the theme of the June 22 class where kids get to participate in a honey-related activity and learn about pollinators. Kids will make smoothies after reading Sylvia’s Spinach on July 13 and they’ll get to take home spinach seeds. Finally, the last class, held on July 27, will teach the kids about pickling vegetables after reading Zora’s Zucchini.
CalFresh Garden Sustainability Community Education Specialist Abbi Marrs said this program is important because it also teaches kids about healthy eating and gives them easy, affordable recipes to make later at home.
“At CalFresh, we offer nutrition education, physical activity, and garden education to low-income community members within the county. It’s hugely important just because of so many problems with obesity, not enough physical activity, and not a lot of [nutrition] education,” Marrs said.
This program teaches kids about healthier food choices through easy recipes that are at low costs, she said. By adding the gardening element, kids will be more likely to eat the food they grow themselves.
“If they plant the seedlings, and watch it mature, they get to directly taste it or watch it go into the kitchen, and that has a big impact,” Marrs said.
After practicing with sample amounts in the classroom, kids will get a copy of the book, the recipe used, and a gardening kit along with the seedlings. All materials sent home will be age appropriate for kids to make themselves with adults in the background, she said.
“I’d like to also [create] a handout with a QR code with an explainer and hoping to include a link to encourage them to check in and take pictures of their seedling and how it’s doing,” Marrs continued.
Eventually, Marrs said, she’d like to expand the program to include older kids to guide younger kids through recipes.
“We can bring [older kids] in and have them help, and make them mentors to empower the youth and give them some ownership,” she said. “It’s about life skills and building self-confidence.”
The program allows 20 students per session, and registration details can be found cityoflompoc.com/government/departments/library. People with questions may contact (805) 875-8775.
Highlight
• The Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department and Youth Arts Alive are offering a variety of visual and performing arts classes for kids ages 8 to 17, June 13 through July 29 at the Newlove Community Building (1619 S. Thornburg St.), the Minami Community Center (600 West Enos St.), and at Grogan Park (1155 West Rancho Verde). Youth Arts Alive hires local professionals to teach music, dance, theater, and visual arts—including music lessons with singing, guitars, ukuleles, and drums. Theater games and a variety of dances are taught in the performing arts classes, no prior experience is necessary. Registration information and a full list of Youth Arts Alive classes are available online at youthartsalive.org. On-site registration is also available if the class isn’t full. For more info, call the Recreation and Parks Department, (805) 925-0951, Ext. 2260.
Reach Staff Writer Taylor O’Connor at [email protected].
