The Cornucopia Project: kids in the garden

I wanted to tell you about a very exciting project going on in our little town. It's called the Cornucopia Project, and it's run ( and founded) by passionate gardener and Mom, Kin Schilling.

It began in a very small way: teaching handicapped kids to garden at Crotched Mountain Rehabilitation Center. The kids not only flourished, working in the greenhouse, but found enormous pride in selling their home-grown , organic produce to the kitchen at the Center, pulling a small wagon filled with delicious greens and veggies for all to admire - and later, to consume.

The next step unfolded - a summer project for area children to learn about hands on organic gardening and using their produce in the kitchen, with their end of the season dinners hugely popular, and why not? With breads and pizza baked in their own homemade outdoor oven, fragrant with basil and organic tomatoes, zucchini, and a basketful of beautiful vegetables, it was a hit from the start.

But there was a hitch. Cornucopia was very close to being shut down due to traffic problems on the tiny triangle of land they were gardening on, when a kind neighbor stepped in and offered his centuries-old farmland to the project, and how beautiful it is! You can see above the stunning fields that have been farmed for generations, and, in the third photo from the top, Kin along with one of her "Seedlings" and family.

The Spring program has started, with interns arriving and chickens, a sheep or two, and even a pony expected on the farm any minute. Plans are afoot to build a chicken house, and later - a sugar house after tapping the ancient maple trees on the farm. The kids, beginning at age three, are excited and passionate - and their parents are thrilled. For many parents, hands-on gardening was not a part of their early life, and they are simply delighted their children are learning the connection between sustainable living, organic gardening, and the cycle of seed to plant, plant to dinner. Many thanks to Kin for putting the program together - and for having the passion to make it work - and we are delighted the program is flourishing!