Spring is here: Let us talk about Gardens in the school or at home.

Humanity from the beginning has had to provide itself with basic needs to stay alive. Shelter and food are one of the most important needs. In these moments of crisis that the world is going through, it is necessary to train in how to produce our own food in case of a world food crisis. This blog will give you a clear vision on how to work in your home or school.
Let us define what a GARDEN is. A GARDEN is a plot of land or place in which vegetables, fruits, and others are grown, developed, and then consumed at home. We can increase the consumption among children and exercise by working in the garden. We all know that the taste fresh fruit and vegetables are better.

Safety in the GARDEN

This small guide will help you to avoid accidents while working in the GARDEN, whether in your home or school:

1. Protection against the sun: use sunscreen.

2. Use long-sleeved shirts.
3. Use sunglasses.
4. Use hats or caps.
5. Use gloves for hand protection.
6. Verify that there are no animals or harmful insects before starting work to avoid bites or stings.
7. Know garden tools.
8. Read and understand the labels of the fertilizers and pesticides before use.
9. Be under the supervision of an adult at all times (in the case of

minors).
10. Have water nearby at all times: you will need clean and fresh water to drink, for watering plants, and to clean in case of accidents.
11. Have a first aid kit in case of cuts or stings.
12. If you have any doubts, call the Extension Office.

Enjoy it!

We must have safety when working in the GARDEN. Next, we need to choose the place in our house or school where we will plant. It is important to learn about the plants because some are sown in full sun and others need shade. For example, okra, tomatoes, peppers, (both sweet and spicy), eggplant, onion, cabbage, melon, beans, squash and corn are plants that require and are planted in full sun. Lettuce and cilantro require a bit of shade. For all the plants, we must observe which side of our house the sun rises and sets: to sow from east to west. Take into consideration that we live in Florida and temperatures may vary. I recommend that plants receive at least six to eight hours of sunlight a day. Our land must be a loose one with a high content of organic matter. If it is not, we should mix it with compost or get some “top soil” and mix it. We can also plant in containers such as earth boxes and buckets. Hardee County 4-H Youth Development Program start with two gardens in schools and we are having fun!!!

If you need more information, please contact us: UF/IFAS Extension Hardee County Office at 863-773-2164 or visit us at 507 Civic Center Drive Wauchula, FL 33873. 4-H Grows Here!

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