The preschool classes at Naval Station Everett’s Child Development Center have begun cultivating their green thumbs by preparing a garden on the playground.

The three, four and five-year-olds have helped pull weeds to ready the ground for planting the seeds they have started in their classrooms.

Cheryl Whitmore, one of the Butterfly Room teachers, started the garden project as a way to get the kids involved in an outdoor pursuit.

“We had a training session about outdoor activities and one of the teachers had a garden,” she said. 

Being a farmer’s daughter and a gardener herself, she was drawn to the idea.

“Digging in the dirt doesn’t bother me, so I knew I could do that.”

The garden started small and has grown with donations of time and materials from parents and volunteers.

“Parents have donated plants, seeds, soil, tools and time to the garden,” she said.

The garden, now in its fifth year, uses the outdoor environment as an extension of the classroom.  Whitmore said the kids learn everything from social to math skills when they head out to the garden.

“It covers the whole spectrum of learning,” she said.  “They learn how to dig next to each other and measure how tall their plants are growing.  We dissected a sunflower one year and talked about the seeds and petals.  We opened up the stem to show how water gets up the flower.  The kids also learn genuine care for the Earth and for nature.  That’s the part I like best.”

The ground, normally used for playing, has grown plants such as thyme, carrots, beans, sunflowers and snapdragons. 

“We have to be really careful of the plants we grow.  Parents are given a list of non-toxic plants they can donate for the garden,” she said.

She said the children can participate in the garden if they choose, but are not required.

“They want to be there,” Whitmore said.  “When they do come over to the garden, the kids do just about everything.  They dig weeds, put the seeds or plants in the ground, cover and water them.”

To keep the seeds away from the crows, students have started sunflowers and pumpkins in the classroom.

“They get so excited when they see their plants growing.”

Whitmore said the children really take an interest in the plants they helped grow.

“It becomes their garden.  They get really upset when a classmate picks something from the garden,” Whitmore said.  “I just let them know that it’s okay and ask if they would like to go pick something too.  All activity in the garden is a good learning experience.”

The garden might be a good experience for the kids, but fun is also a factor in keeping them interested.

“I like digging weeds and digging holes,” Alexandra Glass, a four-year-old in Whitmore’s class, said.

Whitmore said she’ll continue the garden every year despite the hard work.

“I love the amazement on their faces when the plants grow and bloom,” she said.  “Their enthusiasm says it all.”