Bartlett Arboretum & Gardens to Plant & Care for Vegetable Garden at Children’s Learning Centers of Fairfield County (CLC)

Stamford, CT – Bartlett Arboretum & Gardens is excited to announce it will design, plant and care for a vegetable garden in the Harold Sandak Garden at Children’s Learning Centers of Fairfield County (CLC). The Bartlett will also maintain the garden, help harvest produce and teach about the associated health benefits, along with garden-based activities at appropriate times throughout the season. This year, the program will be funded by CLC and a private foundation.

Once the garden has been established and planted this spring, Bartlett staff will be on-site at CLC Palmers Hill twice per week throughout the year to help maintain the garden. A shared long-term goal for both organizations is to add more varieties of food that are important to different cultures, so various backgrounds are represented and experienced through food. This year, some of the food varieties that will be planted include tomatoes, beans, cucumbers, strawberries and herbs.

Due to COVID restrictions, the Bartlett will not be working directly with the children this year, however they will be collaborating with teachers and staff to provide garden and nature-based curriculum and activities. They do hope to be able to provide direct programming with the children in future years.

“Fresh vegetables are a treat, especially when you grow your own,” said Bartlett CEO, Jane von Trapp. “The Bartlett is excited to introduce vegetable gardening to the children and staff at CLC. It will be fun to watch them grow and to enjoy the “fruits” of their labor. We are pleased to join in this partnership with CLC!”

“We are extremely excited to be collaborating with The Bartlett Arboretum as they offer us an outstanding opportunity to act jointly in support of our organic garden. The age-appropriate learning experiences they provide will help our children to take a closer look at wildlife and the lifecycle of plants, encouraging them to eat healthy fruits and vegetables they harvest straight from our garden. Learning responsibility and patience as children wait for their seeds to sprout, and engaging in conversation based on these garden experiences will support their understanding of the world and enhance their cognitive abilities,” said Mary Basso, Child Development Program Director at CLC. 

Visit www.bartlettarboretum.org for more information.