Gaining Green Thumbs through Art of Gardening
This past summer, Artists Creating Together provided an opportunity for youths and adults to learn more about gardening, grow and harvest their own crops, as well as learn healthy and delicious seasonal recipes! Our students' green thumbs helped grow an abundance of vegetables and herbs, including tomatoes, zucchini, squash, green peppers, broccoli, kale, basil, and lavender. At the end of the class, students were able to harvest their crops and bring them home!
Lead by Teaching Artist Zenobia Taylor-Weiss of Cellar Door Preserves, students learned how to utilize the food they grew in the culinary arts. Zenobia taught us how to assemble healthy kale salad, sautéed zucchini, one pan pasta, pico de gallo, and tasty herb hummus made from fresh ingredients from the garden!
Both youth and adult gardening classes took a site visit to Urban Roots. ACT students enjoyed a homemade meal of bean and vegetable soup, toured the garden, fed chickens, learned about an urban farm community, and participated in two farm projects- harvesting garlic and chard.
Students also had the opportunity to participate in several visual arts projects, including making eggshell planters for seeds and starter plants, and painting with brushes made from natural materials (including a variety of herbs, twigs, and weeds).
The Art of Gardening program culminated in our annual Harvest Party! Students and their family enjoyed a potluck-style dinner before taking a tour of the gardens. Zenobia shared her talents with us again by teaching us all how to make raspberry jam with vanilla ice cream!