Eat a Rainbow for Healthy Fun

Here are some healthy eating ideas for back to school. Young gardeners can also "cook"! You can use the book "Planting a Rainbow" by Lois Ehlert.

We do Eating a Rainbow lessons with 2nd graders at Marquez. Kids can grow parts of the rainbow or not. You can draw a rainbow and have the kids match the fruits or veggies to the section on the rainbow.  They can sort the food or put them on toothpicks and skewers.

https://www.wholekidsfoundation.org/downloads/better-bites/better-bites-eat-a-rainbow.pdf

Books About Gardening for Kids

Here are some books that you and your kids might enjoy:
- Anywhere Farm
- The Tiny Seed
- Planting a Rainbow
- Growing Vegetable Soup
- The Ugly Vegetables
- Mrs. Spitzer's Garden
- Oh can you seed?

- Blue Potatoes, Orange Tomatoes
- The Vegetables We Eat
- Tops and Bottoms
- Gus Was a Friendly Ghost (mentions nasturtium seeds)
- The Story of Chester the Monarch Caterpillar/Larva
- The Secret Life of Hummingbirds
- Face to Face with Caterpillars
- Monarch and Milkweed
- Kids Can Compost
- Composting

For the youngest children:
- The Little Gardener

For older kids:
- The Secret Garden (my favorite book as a kid)

Gardening Activity Books
- The Book of Gardening Projects for Kids

Summer Gardening Workshop for Kids at the Palisades Branch Library

UCCE Master Gardener and Marquez School garden teacher Marie Steckmest will work with children on Saturday, July 15 from 10:30 am to noon. Children ages preschool to 6th grade are welcome.

There will be three stations of activities including planting, arts and crafts and sampling of veggies and fruits.

Preschool activity includes a brief story time.

Children grades 3-5 who wish a more in depth study of gardening may sign up for the Junior Master Gardener program.  A sample booklet will be available at the workshop.

RSVPs to info@palisadescares.org are appreciated.