The Center Moriches Free Public Library will host Kids Can Grow! Organic Gardening for Children and Their Parents on Monday, March 16, offering hands-on instruction for children and connecting families to the library’s seed lending program.
The program for children ages 4-12 begins at 5 p.m. and is taught by longtime organic grower and father of four Renato Stafford. Each child will go home with something growing, along with lessons on composting, food origins and garden maintenance.
“Children love to try new foods, especially when they grow it,” said library director Marcie Litjens.
Kids Can Grow! also connects participants to the library’s seed library, which about 2,000 patrons use annually to check out seeds at no cost.
“It’s expanded over the years,” Litjens said, from 20 varieties of flowers, herbs and vegetables in 2017 to an estimated 100 kinds today. “I think people are looking to do more sustainable things at home, and gardening is definitely one of those things,” she said.
The Friends of the Friends of the Center Moriches Library is donating to help stock the library with more than 10,000 seed packets. Residents are not required to return seeds from their gardens, but “we love it when people share their gardening success stories with us and photos,” she said.
Children can use lessons from Kids Can Grow! to start gardens at home.
“Maybe they can encourage their parents to be more sustainable or more aware of the environment,” said children’s librarian Dominique Nason.
The program is open to children throughout Suffolk County who are accompanied by an adult. A valid library card and registration are required.
See the library’s website for details.