Gardening is more than just growing

Gardening is learning about the environment, what makes plants healthy, and why the health of people comes from not just the plants, but how they are grown.

We believe that every child should be taught regenerative gardening. The 3R principle of gardening goes beyond having a green thumb. Your child will learn how to grow, harvest, compost, in addition to design and maintain a thriving garden. As they progress they will learn how to propagate plants, learn about herbs and other plants, how to can, freeze, and dry what they grow. But 3R gardening reaches deeper, we teach about the soil, its microbiome, and how this has direct impacts on the plants we grown, and in turn our own microbiome and health.

We are just getting started

The American Garden Project is starting our first homeschool garden in the Denver Colorado area. If you are interested in having your child join our gardening session please RSVP for the Fall/Winter session below. Continue reading below if you would like additional information on the classes and activities we offer.

RSVP spring/summer 2021

We are in need of a location to start our first garden!

We are currently in search of a location to start our first garden. If you have a potential location in mind let us know at the email address below.

If you own a large space in the Denver area that you would be willing to donate for our homeschool garden please contact us at the email below.

contact@playnaturally.org

About Homeschool COMMUNITY Gardening

Each year we will have two 6 month sessions, September to February & March to August. Each session has its own unique learning elements about gardening tailored to the time of year. We will classes will be held either Friday afternoon, Saturday, or Sunday afternoons, once a week. Working in the garden is highly encouraged throughout each week.

All children and parents are welcome & encouraged to attend the sessions and help out in the garden, regardless of age. Parents of a registered child and children who are 4 years old and younger are free. Anyone is welcome to work the garden at any time, so long as they follow the regenerative gardening principles of the American Garden Project (Principles will be posted on site and taught in our classes).

Fees are used to cover costs of the garden, compensate for instruction, and further the work of the American Garden Project.

Regenerative Garden Principles

The use of any chemical or fertilizer is strictly forbidden in a garden associated with the American Garden Project. As you will learn in our sessions, the earth is quite capable of replenishing all the nutrients the plants need and defending our gardens against pests and disease. The use of fertilizer destroys the soil microbiome, leading to the need of harmful chemicals to controls pests and disease (which further destroy the soil). These pests are only able to thrive in the garden because of the disruption of the balance of the soil food web caused by chemicals used in gardening and farming today.

Your child will learn to create a thriving garden by feeding the soil microbiome, reestablishing the balance of the soil, and creating a diverse garden environment which discourages any harmful outbreaks of pests or disease.

Homeschool Market (Coming fall 2021)

As a part of the Homeschool Garden you will have free access to great produce that you help to grow. Additional produce will be sold in the fall on Saturdays in a farmers market. The market will be run by the students. As with all of the funds earned they will go towards garden improvements, maintenance, and expansion of the American Garden Project.

Fall/Winter Session

$50 per child

Garden Design
- Design your own small garden plot
- Implement the plot in the Spring/Summer!
Harvest & Sell Produce (Starting 2021)
Greenhouse Growing (Future)
Trench Composting
Fall Cleanup
Weed & Pest Control
Herb Gardens
Herbs and Their Uses
Vegetable Gardens
Landscape Gardens
The Microbiome
Canning/Freezing/Drying

RSVP for Fall/Winter 2021