Monmouth County Offers Gardening Classes For Kids

MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ — Interested in getting your child or teenager to learn about gardening?

Through the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Monmouth County, the Junior Master Gardener Committee will host the annual Grow Team Program, an eight-week gardening program that includes hands-on experiences in both the classroom and garden under the supervision of certified Rutgers Master Gardeners. This eight-week class session is offered to local kids ages 9-11 and classes are held at the Monmouth County Agriculture Building, 4000 Kozloski Road in Freehold.

The program will be held on Saturday mornings with classroom drop-off at 9:15 a.m. at the rear entrance to the Agriculture Building. Pick-up time at the garden is 12:30 p.m. The classes are scheduled for May 2, May 9, May 16, May 30, June 6, June 13, June 20 and June 27. There is a $30 registration fee (additional siblings are $25 each) and class size is limited to 18 children.

“The Grow Team Program is a wonderful opportunity for children ages 9 to 11 to learn about and be exposed to horticulture under the direction of experienced and knowledgeable Master Gardeners,” said Freeholder Lillian G. Burry, liaison to Rutgers Cooperative Extension. “Upon successful completion of all eight weeks of this program, the children will be recognized as Junior Master Gardeners and encouraged to return to the garden to harvest produce.”

The topics covered in the Grow Team Program include seeds and plant benefits, plant growth and development, soils and water, ecology and environmental horticulture, landscape horticulture, insects and plant disease, vegetables, herbs and fruit as well as harvesting.

To register your child for the Grow Team Program, complete the application and media release with registration fee by Friday, Feb. 21. For more information, contact the Rutgers Master Gardeners of Monmouth County at 732-431-7260 or go to www.visitmonmouth.com.