AUBURN — Whiting Farm Children’s Garden Program is designed to encourage children to find the fun in gardening while learning the importance of growing their own food. 

The program begins during April school vacation and continues through the growing and harvesting season, ending in October.   

During their time on the farm, children will participate in fun hands-on lessons, focused on topics such as seed germination, pollinators and pests of the garden, worms and their important role in soil health, raising and caring for chickens, companion planting, garden planning and much more.

In May and June, participants will be welcomed back to the farm to care for their seedlings and plant the Children’s Garden. During the growing season, children and their families will be encouraged to participate in afternoon gardening activities.

When harvesting time comes, every other week, participants will be invited to come to the garden to learn about harvesting techniques, pest management and they will harvest fresh vegetables from the Children’s Garden area as well as Whiting Farm fields to take home and share with their family.

The Whiting Farm Children’s Garden program begins April 18 to 21, 9 a.m. to noon. The cost of the program April to October is $125.

FMI, register: 207-777-5129, whitingfarmjfmh.ticketspice.com/childrens-garden-program.

Participants in the 2016 Whiting Farm Children’s Garden Program plant their garden.