Have you desired to grow your own garden but just don’t know how to get started? In the Garden teaches families to grow their own food at home while also reaping the benefits of connecting with nature and spending quality time together. Written by two homeschool families in Florida that are experienced gardeners, this elective course walks you through different climates, types of gardens, how to place your plants, soil nutrients, photosynthesis, irrigation, crop rotation, weed management, and much, much more! The thirty lessons are not meant to be rushed. It can be done in a semester, a full school year, or even as a summer experience. The components of the package include a textbook, a workbook, and video lessons.
The Textbook is filled with vivid illustrations and stunning photos that pull the reader in. The text is very conversational and helps you see connections between family, gardening, community, and our environment. If you don’t have a large garden spot - raised beds, containers, or a small backyard plot will work just fine. Each lesson gives you practical tips. There are also illustrations of popular fruits, vegetables, legumes, and herbs with planting and harvest notes along with “caring” tips and interesting history behind them. Each lesson varies in page length with plenty of engaging visuals alongside the text.
The Workbook includes two age-appropriate activity pages that go with each textbook lesson. One page has an academic activity and the other is a “get outside and explore” activity. A few lessons have additional material pages in the back for kids to cut out and use with their activity page. Household supplies like colored pencils, thin-tipped markers, scissors, glue sticks, and a clip board are needed for the workbook. Required garden items include seeds and/or plant starters, a garden hose and watering cans, pots or cell trays, garden beds or rows for growing plants, compost and organic fertilizer, and gardening tools. A few lessons require additional material listed in the back. Answers to the activity pages are also included in the back.
Engaging Video Lessons filmed right from the garden accompany each lesson in the textbook. These well-done videos provide extra information and give you availability to online coaching. Each video is about 6-12 minutes. The first half of the video explains the content from the textbook. The second half brings the lesson to life in the garden. When you purchase the package, you receive an email from Dirt Academy Kids with activation instructions for lifetime access. ~ Gina