I an running a seven week rotation in the summer and I thought that I might do some gardening. Does anyone have ideas?! Thanks.

We did a gardening workshop as part of an Easter unit based on John 12:24 "Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit."

Our activity was extremely simple. We planted zinnia seeds in little peat pots. We used some library picture books about plants, planting and gardening to fill out the workshop and encourage the kids to participate in gardening at home. We even had some earthworms to observe. The kids took their pots home, but we kept extras at church which we re-potted, watered and enjoyed all summer.

There's a wonderful hymn by Natalie Sleeth "In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed an apple tree." The refrain is "unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see." You can find it on the web at http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/h/y/hymnprom.htm. It's also known as "Hymn of Promise" and is published in a number of hymnals and children's song books.

The best thing about our gardening workshop, though, was that it attracted a grandmother as workshop leader. She was terrific and would never have volunteered if it hadn't been gardening. She continues to volunteer at least once annually, taking on new assignments, most recently cooking.

Anne Camp, Pittsburgh

Hi
I saw a nice project for a garden theme:
give each child an egg carton and ask them to create a "garden scene" on the inside of the cover. Paint, markers, or collage- whatever.
Then put potting soil in each of the "cups" and plant a small seed. Send these home with the children by putting a rubber bamd around the carton. Remind kids to water their seed and wait for it to grow.
Jan Snell

You could cover the days of creation and when plants were created, and their importance to our very existance. How God gave Adam the job of caring for the Garden, and how all their food was from plants at the beginning, even all the animals ate only plants, because before sin all of creation was in perfect harmony. You could have a special sunday school plot to then design and plant your own garden.

You could talk about the parable of the soils, and how important the right kind of soil is, and the cultivation of the "soil" of our hearts.

You could even talk about composting. How garbage breaks down to make compost which is good for plants. But garbage that enters our hearts is not good. God calls us to protect our hearts and think on those things that are lovely, pure, etc.

You could have a worm farm in your compost pile, or build ladybug houses and buy some ladybugs. I don't know why just sounds like fun

You could use the book, THE SECRET GARDEN, and talk about how God transforms our lives. I think there is a video version, but it might not have the spiritual references in it.

You could do an art study of Monet's gardens and do an art lesson, talking about how God is a God of beauty and creativity. And how he has created us as creative beings, different from all other life.

Maybe your church would approve a water garden with small fountain. And you could link in how Jesus is the living water.

Sounds like fun!! I've been trying to decide what to do for this summer also and you've really inspired me

[This message was edited by Cindy LB on April 03, 2003 at 08:11 PM.]

Thank you all for giving us awesome ideas!!! We appreciate all your help and support. Amy T

Hi Amy,

How about doing Biblical plants in your garden rotation? There is a good book, "Consider The Lilies:Plants of the Bible" that is a good reference.

Also check out www.suite101.com/article.cfm/262/23454. This is a short but interesting article about Bible plants.

Good luck!
Julie Burton

We are making chia heads for one of our vbs sites this year. I always like to have one of the crafts be nature oriented. Also you could do terrariums out of pop bottles that are sliced in half and then put back together. If either of these interest you I will give directions. Both can easily be connected to various bible lessons.

Another simple gardening idea.
Soak a regular kitchen sponge in water. Ring out until damp. Place in a shallow dish. sprinkle with grass seed. Remind the children to keep damp. Grass seed is great because it grows quickly. You can cut the sponge into a shape if you wish.