White Harvest Farms taught families about the wide variety of vegetables you can grow in Jacksonville at Budding Gardeners: Winter Veggies on November 13.

Budding Gardeners is aimed at children in grades 1-6 to discover gardening, conservation, and wildlife through interactive programs, crafts, and outdoor projects. Children and their parents or caregivers collaborate during a morning of healthy and fun activities.

Sarah Salvatore and Harmony Salvatore, volunteers from White Harvest Farms, shared tips for growing Thanksgiving vegetables in our region, such as pumpkins, sweet potatoes, kale, collards, fennel, onions, turnips, green beans, potatoes, and corn. Then the families broke into groups for three activities.

Sarah helped the children plant kale and collard seedlings to take home with them. Harmony led the children in a craft that demonstrated the nutritional value of vegetables. Chef Henry of Clara White Mission demonstrated how to make delicious sautéed collard greens and a tossed kale salad.

Families enjoyed snacks in the Courtyard, played giant Jenga, tossed cornhole, tried hula hoop, and drew on the Living Beauty Florals Chalk Van, provided by Chanel Lee, a member of the Garden Club’s Board of Trustees and chair of Budding Gardeners.

Look for more Budding Gardeners programs on the Garden Club events page here.