George Washington Carver Community Gardens Project

Inspired by the life, legacy, and lessons of Dr. George Washington Carver, (GWC) one of our country’s foremost environmental and agricultural heroes, The Learning Farm,  Ithaca Children's Garden, and Children's Reading Connection are bringing the community together to launch the George Washington Carver Community Gardens Project featuring multi-month (from planting to harvest) opportunities for Dr. GWC celebration, education, inspiration, and action!

The free community launch event, In the (Children's) Garden with Dr. Carver, will be held on Saturday, June 8th, from 2:30 to 4:30 pm, at the Ithaca Children's Garden, 121 Turtle Lane, in Ithaca, New York.  Kick off remarks and the unveiling and community-read of the new BIG book of "In the Garden with Dr. Carver," will be at 2:45 pm.

The kick-off event will feature GWC inspired gardening, growing, stories, nature, art, and activities for children and families.  Children will also receive a sweet potato slip  (a baby plant of one of GWC favorites) to take home to grow, and a picture book, "In the Garden with Dr. Carver" by Susan Grigsby, to take home to read and enjoy.

Join the Launch Celebration

Saturday, June 8th 2:30-4:30pm @ Ithaca Children's Garden

Activities for families and everyone to enjoy together include:

• Explore ICG’s New High Tunnel Greenhouse
• Discover ICG’s new George Washington Carver Community Garden
• Try Potato Stamping
• Create your own Plant Picture and watch a Botanic Illustrator
• Collect Vegetable Cards From Cornell Botanic Gardens
• Meet The Plant Doctor, Dr. GWC (stand-in :)
• Learn more about the Super Sweet Potato
• Preview The In The Garden with Dr. Carver Play
• Enjoy In The Garden with Dr. Carver Big Book!
• Stories in the Streets at the Garden Unveiling
• Enjoy the "In the Garden with Dr. Carver" book!

‍

For more information about the event, contact Brigid Hubberman of Children's Reading Connection at brigid@childrensreadingconnection.org or call (607) 227-3360.

‍

THE LARGER  PROJECT:
George Washington Carver Community Gardens Project

We who farm, garden, love community, practice art, and share stories turn to Dr. George Washington Carver’s ageless wisdom as we envision a better world for our children, and look for inspiration & guidance on the ways we are to treat our land and our people. - Christa Nunez, The Learning Farm

Dr. George Washington Carver was extraordinary!

He was an
Agriculturalist
agronomist
botanist
scientist
inventor
educator
artist
and so
much more!

Inspired by the life, legacy, and lessons of one of our country’s foremost environmental and agricultural champions, The Learning Farm, Ithaca Children's Garden and Children's Reading Connection are bringing our community together to launch the George Washington Carver Community Gardens Project.

George Washington Carver Community Gardens Project

George Washington Carver Community Gardens will be in neighborhoods and schools, and will feature foods good for eating and for the soil, including: Sweet Potatoes, Okra, Collard Greens, Black-Eyed Peas, and Peanuts. A select group of GWC Ambassador farming leaders will share their knowledge and skills.

2,000 Free Sweet Potato Slips–baby plants will be made available for families and community growing. Second graders across our community will receive the book, In the Garden with Dr. Carver, to read, enjoy, and be inspired into action. From planting to harvest–watch for more activities to follow, and a fall harvest celebration complete with an abundance of Super Sweet Potatoes!

Find more information at www.learningfarm.org/gwc

Copies of the centerpiece book, "In the Garden with Dr. Carver" can also be purchased at Buffalo Street Books for just $5.00 (half price) so that all community members can have access to it.

The George Washington Carver Community Gardens Project has received support from an Urban Agriculture Resilience Program Award.  The United States Botanic Garden (USBG) and American Public Gardens Association (Association) have awarded support to 26 public gardens and their community partners engaging in urban agriculture, food-growing, and related education work. The 26 awards support public garden partnerships across the United States that will foster public engagement and education in urban food growing and build capacity in urban agriculture programs. The Urban Agriculture Resilience Program aims to strengthen collaborations, promote resilience, and gather best practices from across the U.S.

THE PARTNERS, W/ CONTACTS:

The Learning Farm
Christa Nunez
christanunez@gmail.com

Children's Reading Connection
Brigid Hubberman
brigid@childrensreadingconnection.org

Ithaca Children's Garden
Trey Ramsey
trey@ithacachildrensgarden.org