Growing Together: The Valley Daycare Garden Project
- Crystal M.
- Mar 2
- 4 min read
Spring is a time of renewal, of tiny green shoots pushing through the soil, reaching for the sun. At Valley Daycare, it's also the beginning of another exciting season in the garden—a space where little hands dig, plant, and explore, where wonder takes root, and where lessons about nature, food, and patience come to life.
The Valley Daycare Garden Project is more than just a place to grow vegetables and flowers; it is a living classroom. Over the past year, we've watched the children marvel at delight in the buzzing of pollinators and sharing the joy of tasting fresh-picked berries. This year, we're building on that magic with new additions and improvements, ensuring that this special space continues to nourish young minds and bodies alike.
What's in Store for This Growing Season?
With the support of our community and dedicated volunteers, we have big plans for the garden this year! Thanks to Sullivan 180 and their Catskill Edible Garden Grant, we've expanded and refined our growing spaces, making them more accessible and productive than ever. Here's what's ahead:
Relaxing Tea Garden—We're introducing a collection of child-friendly herbal tea plants, allowing children to explore scents, textures, and flavors. They'll learn about calming chamomile, refreshing mint, and the gentle magic of lemon balm.
Playground Mud Kitchen—Nothing fuels creativity quite like mud! This new addition will give children the opportunity for hands-on, unstructured play, where they can mix, mash, and create using the natural elements around them.
A Seedling Wall - A verticle planting space designed to showcase young plants as they grow, inspiring curiosity and helping children understand the early stages of a plant's life.
Fencing and Irrigation—We're investing in infrastructure to help protect the garden while making watering more efficient.
Pollinator Planting—The orchard space, a cornerstone of our garden project, will be enhanced with more flowers and pollinator-friendly plants. By surrounding the space with blooms, we'll invite more butterflies, bees, and beneficial insects to help our fruits and vegetables thrive.
Inspiration Photos
How We Got Here
This project has been made possible through the generosity of individuals, organizations, and businesses who believe in the power of connecting children with nature. We've received invaluable support from Sullivan 180, whose grant helped establish the foundation for the growing spaces. Additionally, Cheyenne Zigmund, an experienced gardener and the owner of Root N' Roost Farm, has played a crucial role in designing the irrigation system and helping to shape the vision of the garden.
A huge thanks also goes out to the folks at Monticello Farm Home and Garden. Their knowledgeable staff helped guide us in plant selection, offering expertise and friendly conversation that made shopping a delight. Their generosity extended beyond advice—they provided discounted soil, plants, and tools last year and have committed to continuing their support in the coming season.
This year, we're also introducing Roots & Boots, a new volunteer event designed to bring people together for a morning of gardening, activity, and sunshine. We hope this initiative encourages more community members to get involved, enjoy the outdoors, and participate in something meaningful.
How You Can Get Involved
As we step into this season, we invite you to be part of this journey. Whether you're a parent, a teacher, a community member, or simply someone who loves the idea of children growing up with dirt under their nails and a deep appreciation for the natural world, there are many ways to support the Valley Daycare Garden Project:
Join a Roots & Boot Volunteer Event - Spend a morning in the garden, helping with planting, weeding, and maintaining the space. It's a great way to get outside and make a tangible difference.
Support Our Fundraising Efforts—In April, we're launching a fundraising campaign for Children's Gardening Month to raise funds to meet our goals this growing season. Donations of any size help bring these projects to life!
Spread the Word - Follow The Valley Fellowship on Instagram and Facebook, share our posts, and tell friends and family about what we're building here.
Donate materials or Expertise - If you have gardening tools, plants, flowers, or skills to share, we'd love to hear from you!
Why This Matters
A garden is more than just a space filled with plants. It is a place of discovery, learning patience, and witnessing firsthand the growth miracle. It's where children see where food comes from, where they experience the seasons not as a concept but as a cycle unfolding before their eyes. It's where they learn responsibility by caring for a living thing and where they gain a sense of pride in harvesting something they helped grow.
With each passing season, the Valley Daycare Garden Project continues to bloom, not just in plants but in the hearts and minds of the children who spend time in it. We invite you to be part of this beautiful journey—because when we grow together, we thrive together.
For updates and ways to get involved, follow us on Facebook and Instagram or visit our website. Let's make this season the best one yet!
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