Top Things Young People Learn from Growing a Permaculture Garden or Volunteering in Community Gardening
People of all ages can enjoy gardening, but young people, in particular, will have lots of fun and gain special benefits. Gardening is educational and develops new skills including:
1. Responsibility – young people feel empowered as they are entrusted with responsibilities. They learn to manage the gardens, collaborate with other people around them and take care of the plants they planted.
2. Growing Food Encourages Healthier Eating Habits – learning about where fresh food comes from. Hilary Proctor of Proctor of Making Cents International cited on this webinar Engaging Youth in Horticulture “The more fruits and vegetables you eat the more likely you are to have a healthy diet.” When you engage youth in growing food from the soil to the salad bar, encourages them to consider their food choices.
3. Understanding – as they learn about cause and effect (for example, plants die without water, weeds compete with plants). Young people also begin to understand the concept by simply caring for a plant from seed to plate. They learn how to plant a seed, take care of the young seedling and observe it with fascination as the plants grow and change.
4. Self-confidence and Pride – from achieving their goals and enjoying the food they have grown. And I’ve noticed a sense of accomplishment they get when watching seeds grow.”
5. Love of Nature – a chance to reconnect with nature as young people can quickly learn to appreciate nature and green spaces with educational outdoor experiences. Love of nature – a chance to learn about the outdoor environment in a safe and pleasant place.
6. Physical activity – Digging in the soil, pulling weeds, painting pots, or watering the plants improves physical fitness. USA Today details that you may notice increased flexibility and eye-hand coordination from your gardening, and you may see improved dexterity as well.
Read the rest when you visit Olmec Agro-Tech Blog: https://olmecagro-tech.org/top-10-young-people-learn-in-engaging-community-gardening/