1 00:00:03,640 --> 00:00:06,120 Speaker 1: So for years I've been suddenly trying to point out 2 00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:11,560 Speaker 1: to my kids how good I am at things like 3 00:00:11,600 --> 00:00:13,720 Speaker 1: I make a point of lifting things that are just 4 00:00:13,800 --> 00:00:15,760 Speaker 1: a little heavier than they can lift to show them 5 00:00:15,760 --> 00:00:19,680 Speaker 1: how strong I am. I parallel park our tiny car 6 00:00:19,680 --> 00:00:22,960 Speaker 1: and spaces fit for trucks, and then point out how 7 00:00:23,000 --> 00:00:27,000 Speaker 1: well I parked. Sometimes I'll use my phone to solve 8 00:00:27,040 --> 00:00:30,160 Speaker 1: a math problem, then scrunch up my face and concentrate 9 00:00:30,280 --> 00:00:32,519 Speaker 1: and say the answer out loud, like I figured it 10 00:00:32,520 --> 00:00:35,640 Speaker 1: out in my head. I am not ashamed at these things. 11 00:00:36,360 --> 00:00:38,519 Speaker 1: But there comes a moment in every parent's life when 12 00:00:38,520 --> 00:00:42,800 Speaker 1: their kids realize their parents aren't perfect. Sometimes it's gradually 13 00:00:42,880 --> 00:00:46,440 Speaker 1: over time, where sometimes it hits in the single event. 14 00:00:48,520 --> 00:00:52,479 Speaker 1: So Ruby, I'm curious. I'm doing this podcast about plants, 15 00:00:52,520 --> 00:00:55,160 Speaker 1: and I want people to know. Would you say I'm 16 00:00:55,280 --> 00:00:58,520 Speaker 1: good with plants? I mean, you're good at all. I 17 00:00:58,680 --> 00:01:09,240 Speaker 1: think soccer, what about gardening that much? And my kids, 18 00:01:09,280 --> 00:01:12,040 Speaker 1: Henry and Ruby have figured it out sooner than I expected, 19 00:01:12,640 --> 00:01:17,400 Speaker 1: partially because of gardening. But I'm relishing this new dynamic 20 00:01:17,480 --> 00:01:20,360 Speaker 1: because Ruby sees it as this opportunity to teach me 21 00:01:20,680 --> 00:01:24,559 Speaker 1: everything about gardening. And Henry, who scurries away to build 22 00:01:24,560 --> 00:01:27,840 Speaker 1: afford any chance he gets, is coming up with lots 23 00:01:27,840 --> 00:01:30,840 Speaker 1: of ideas for landscape design, and when we walk through 24 00:01:30,840 --> 00:01:34,280 Speaker 1: our backyard together, sometimes I learned stuff from them, but 25 00:01:34,319 --> 00:01:37,399 Speaker 1: I'm always learning stuff about them, the way they see 26 00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:41,160 Speaker 1: the world, how they process big ideas, and also why 27 00:01:41,280 --> 00:01:44,319 Speaker 1: we need to wear shoes when we're outside, because there 28 00:01:44,360 --> 00:01:46,920 Speaker 1: really are a lot of slugs in our garden right now, 29 00:01:47,160 --> 00:01:49,280 Speaker 1: and I've heard a lot of descriptions of what they 30 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:57,120 Speaker 1: feel like under bare feet. Hey there, I'm mongas Utigular, 31 00:01:57,240 --> 00:01:59,200 Speaker 1: co host of Part Time Genius, one of the founders 32 00:01:59,200 --> 00:02:02,520 Speaker 1: of Mental Floss, and this is Humans Growing Stuff, a 33 00:02:02,600 --> 00:02:05,840 Speaker 1: collaboration from My Heart Radio and your Friends and Miracle Growth. 34 00:02:06,440 --> 00:02:08,880 Speaker 1: My goal is to make this the most human show 35 00:02:09,040 --> 00:02:13,000 Speaker 1: about plants that you'll ever listen to. And along the way, 36 00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:16,360 Speaker 1: we'll share sweet, inspiring stories, tips and tricks to nurture 37 00:02:16,400 --> 00:02:19,320 Speaker 1: your plant addiction, and just enough science to make you 38 00:02:19,320 --> 00:02:22,080 Speaker 1: sound like an expert. In this episode, we're talking about 39 00:02:22,080 --> 00:02:25,160 Speaker 1: gardening as a family, How putting down our screens and 40 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:27,760 Speaker 1: spending just a little bit of time together each week 41 00:02:27,840 --> 00:02:31,960 Speaker 1: tending to plants. How that encourages better mental health. Strengthens 42 00:02:32,040 --> 00:02:36,359 Speaker 1: relationships and sparks curiosity. This week it's me and all 43 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:44,640 Speaker 1: of my little roommates in the Garden, Chapter four families 44 00:02:44,680 --> 00:02:51,600 Speaker 1: Growing Roots, Plant Roots. So, Henry, I know you're inspired 45 00:02:51,639 --> 00:02:55,080 Speaker 1: by the Garden to read a poem, right, Yeah, I 46 00:02:55,120 --> 00:02:58,520 Speaker 1: was very inspired and I really want to read it. 47 00:02:59,080 --> 00:03:07,000 Speaker 1: That sounds great. Why don't do that now? And now 48 00:03:07,639 --> 00:03:12,720 Speaker 1: for another trip to poetry corner, this time with Henry 49 00:03:14,880 --> 00:03:19,720 Speaker 1: The Life of Rabbit. I love to roam the carrot patch. 50 00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:25,120 Speaker 1: There's delicious food to eat, but right before I fill 51 00:03:25,200 --> 00:03:30,280 Speaker 1: my mouth, far work chase is made from my tree. 52 00:03:33,840 --> 00:03:36,920 Speaker 1: One of the strangest parts of Quarantine, especially when it 53 00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:40,000 Speaker 1: first struck here in New York, is that my family 54 00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:42,600 Speaker 1: was always around each other. We were stuck in this 55 00:03:42,680 --> 00:03:45,880 Speaker 1: apartment together, but we didn't have much we wanted to 56 00:03:45,920 --> 00:03:48,440 Speaker 1: talk about. All day, the kids would include to their 57 00:03:48,480 --> 00:03:51,000 Speaker 1: screens trying to do class work. My wife and I 58 00:03:51,040 --> 00:03:54,520 Speaker 1: too were on our computers, just hiding behind closed doors 59 00:03:54,520 --> 00:03:58,040 Speaker 1: and meetings and conference calls, and somewhere in this mess, 60 00:03:58,040 --> 00:04:00,920 Speaker 1: we'd hustled together a lunch or figure out groceries, but 61 00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:03,880 Speaker 1: so much of our worry was about keeping the family 62 00:04:03,920 --> 00:04:07,160 Speaker 1: healthy and in our fatigue, my wife and I were 63 00:04:07,200 --> 00:04:10,440 Speaker 1: looking for something fun, something positive we could train our 64 00:04:10,480 --> 00:04:13,880 Speaker 1: families focus on in a way, Playing with plants this 65 00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:16,880 Speaker 1: fall and getting dirty in the garden has given us that. 66 00:04:17,640 --> 00:04:20,159 Speaker 1: In the last few weeks, we started arguing about whose 67 00:04:20,200 --> 00:04:22,800 Speaker 1: turn it is to miss the house plants. Who knew 68 00:04:22,800 --> 00:04:25,560 Speaker 1: missing plants was a thing or that it was so 69 00:04:25,640 --> 00:04:29,719 Speaker 1: much fun We dig together and talk about worms. We 70 00:04:29,920 --> 00:04:32,960 Speaker 1: noticed the different birds out back, something we never did before, 71 00:04:33,440 --> 00:04:35,839 Speaker 1: and we talked about the plants, the ones that have 72 00:04:35,920 --> 00:04:38,880 Speaker 1: grown and the ones that definitely have not. It's like 73 00:04:38,920 --> 00:04:41,600 Speaker 1: we're rooting for the same team here, even when our 74 00:04:41,600 --> 00:04:44,960 Speaker 1: team is losing. What's funny, though, is how this has 75 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:48,440 Speaker 1: seeped into my other conversations. When I was pestoring Mr 76 00:04:48,440 --> 00:04:52,000 Speaker 1: Plant Geek Michael Perry about gardening and mental health, I 77 00:04:52,040 --> 00:04:54,320 Speaker 1: also asked him how I could use plants to pique 78 00:04:54,320 --> 00:04:57,560 Speaker 1: my kid's curiosity, and he told me about this dancing plant, 79 00:04:58,080 --> 00:05:02,240 Speaker 1: the cod Aio Callax motor us. It actually sways and 80 00:05:02,279 --> 00:05:06,600 Speaker 1: bends when you sing to it. He also told me 81 00:05:06,680 --> 00:05:08,800 Speaker 1: how you can plant and work it upside down to 82 00:05:08,880 --> 00:05:13,400 Speaker 1: defy gravity and it'll grow beautifully. So I've added those 83 00:05:13,440 --> 00:05:16,640 Speaker 1: to my project list. But it wasn't just him. Bear 84 00:05:16,760 --> 00:05:19,200 Speaker 1: Tounday talked about how tending to his plants made him 85 00:05:19,200 --> 00:05:22,080 Speaker 1: think of his mother. Kadija Williams told me all about 86 00:05:22,120 --> 00:05:24,880 Speaker 1: how her family garden together and how it brought them closer. 87 00:05:25,640 --> 00:05:28,240 Speaker 1: So I want some of that. The other thing I 88 00:05:28,279 --> 00:05:31,839 Speaker 1: know is that my kids love learning through experiences, and 89 00:05:31,880 --> 00:05:35,120 Speaker 1: they learned better that way. I know. Gardens are basically 90 00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:37,720 Speaker 1: classrooms if you treat them right, places where you can 91 00:05:37,720 --> 00:05:40,560 Speaker 1: work on fine motor skills, but also pick up some 92 00:05:40,600 --> 00:05:43,679 Speaker 1: science and love for the environment, and maybe even practice 93 00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:47,920 Speaker 1: patients in this world of instant gratification, But what else 94 00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:50,520 Speaker 1: might our family gained by getting our hands dirty? Once 95 00:05:50,560 --> 00:05:53,920 Speaker 1: a week I called up Shelley Casto for some answers. 96 00:05:54,240 --> 00:05:56,839 Speaker 1: Shelley is the executive director of the Highland Youth Garden, 97 00:05:57,120 --> 00:06:00,000 Speaker 1: this urban agriculture project that works with more than three 98 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:03,240 Speaker 1: hundred students in the Highland neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio, and 99 00:06:03,279 --> 00:06:10,760 Speaker 1: it gives them this hands on learning experience in the garden. Hey, Shelly, 100 00:06:10,839 --> 00:06:13,680 Speaker 1: thank you for being here. Hi, how are you man? Guests? 101 00:06:13,960 --> 00:06:16,599 Speaker 1: I am so excited to be chatting with you. I 102 00:06:16,680 --> 00:06:18,720 Speaker 1: want to start by just having you tell me a 103 00:06:18,720 --> 00:06:21,800 Speaker 1: little bit about the Highland Youth Gardens and how it 104 00:06:22,000 --> 00:06:25,960 Speaker 1: got its start. Absolutely so we are almost half acre 105 00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:30,560 Speaker 1: Urban Agriculture Project a k A farm that was established 106 00:06:30,600 --> 00:06:33,520 Speaker 1: ten years ago by a group of volunteers in one 107 00:06:33,560 --> 00:06:37,440 Speaker 1: of the most under resource neighborhoods in Columbus, in partnership 108 00:06:37,480 --> 00:06:41,480 Speaker 1: with Oakley Full Gospel Baptist Church who wanted to offer 109 00:06:41,560 --> 00:06:45,760 Speaker 1: children in that neighborhood an opportunity to learn about gardening 110 00:06:45,960 --> 00:06:49,120 Speaker 1: and fresh produce. Would you mind walking me through what 111 00:06:49,160 --> 00:06:53,440 Speaker 1: the garden looks like. So it is essentially half a block. 112 00:06:53,839 --> 00:06:58,240 Speaker 1: We have an Arab garden with lots of signs in 113 00:06:58,320 --> 00:07:01,640 Speaker 1: Spanish and English to tell people what we've planted to 114 00:07:01,720 --> 00:07:06,600 Speaker 1: give a little education about the ecological aspects of the site. 115 00:07:06,960 --> 00:07:10,120 Speaker 1: And it is planted with tomatoes. We often have strawberries 116 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:15,160 Speaker 1: in there and squash, rhubarb, beats melon. It's also where 117 00:07:15,160 --> 00:07:18,240 Speaker 1: we plan create all of our seedlings that we give 118 00:07:18,240 --> 00:07:21,119 Speaker 1: away to people in the spring. Right now, it's filled 119 00:07:21,120 --> 00:07:24,120 Speaker 1: with sunflowers where kids can just get in among all 120 00:07:24,160 --> 00:07:27,880 Speaker 1: the sunflowers and feel like it's a little house. In fact, 121 00:07:27,920 --> 00:07:30,360 Speaker 1: a girl I was working with yesterday was just so 122 00:07:30,400 --> 00:07:33,160 Speaker 1: She's like, I could just move in here surrounded by 123 00:07:33,240 --> 00:07:35,880 Speaker 1: nature and that and that's you know, that's exactly what 124 00:07:35,920 --> 00:07:38,720 Speaker 1: we're looking for. We just yesterday dug up a bunch 125 00:07:38,720 --> 00:07:43,440 Speaker 1: of sweet potatoes, found a snake. Um. That was the experience. 126 00:07:44,240 --> 00:07:48,600 Speaker 1: Super cute little garden snake that was being very fierce um. 127 00:07:48,640 --> 00:07:50,680 Speaker 1: And most of the kids said, not, you know, you 128 00:07:50,720 --> 00:07:52,640 Speaker 1: don't see snakes in the middle of the city very often. 129 00:07:53,280 --> 00:07:54,880 Speaker 1: Tell me what what is your day to day like 130 00:07:55,000 --> 00:07:56,960 Speaker 1: and and how much do you actually get to be 131 00:07:57,120 --> 00:08:00,760 Speaker 1: with kids in the garden? Yeah? Absolutely, I make sure 132 00:08:00,800 --> 00:08:03,080 Speaker 1: I get out there once a week, and I was 133 00:08:03,120 --> 00:08:08,240 Speaker 1: there yesterday and we had garden club with five neighborhood kids. 134 00:08:08,680 --> 00:08:13,160 Speaker 1: We started out by chasing him on our butterfly and 135 00:08:13,200 --> 00:08:16,840 Speaker 1: then trying out creed sweet potatoes stew, which many of 136 00:08:16,880 --> 00:08:19,800 Speaker 1: them had never had, And then we went and dug 137 00:08:19,840 --> 00:08:23,000 Speaker 1: up the sweet potatoes themselves and found the garden snake, 138 00:08:24,320 --> 00:08:27,280 Speaker 1: and then did some journaling. So it was a great afternoon, 139 00:08:27,760 --> 00:08:32,000 Speaker 1: a full afternoon. Yeah. Absolutely, it recharges me for sure. 140 00:08:32,360 --> 00:08:35,040 Speaker 1: So what are some of the things you're observing as 141 00:08:35,240 --> 00:08:37,760 Speaker 1: kids start growing in the garden For the first time, 142 00:08:38,480 --> 00:08:42,000 Speaker 1: I'm seeing curiosity be peaked. You know, what is that 143 00:08:42,000 --> 00:08:44,640 Speaker 1: work I'm doing in there? Oh my gosh, what's that butterfly? There? 144 00:08:44,760 --> 00:08:46,520 Speaker 1: Is it gonna hurt me if I try to catch it? 145 00:08:46,800 --> 00:08:50,400 Speaker 1: You know, that sort of direct curiosity with the world 146 00:08:50,720 --> 00:08:54,559 Speaker 1: right around us in a very hands on way is important. 147 00:08:55,040 --> 00:08:59,200 Speaker 1: I'll also talk about a teenager who started with us 148 00:08:59,240 --> 00:09:03,360 Speaker 1: a year ago and came to us with no knowledge 149 00:09:03,360 --> 00:09:07,719 Speaker 1: of gardening or interest in in gardening, and was very shy. 150 00:09:07,760 --> 00:09:11,440 Speaker 1: And at this point she is the queen she is. 151 00:09:11,480 --> 00:09:13,920 Speaker 1: You know, when anybody comes to a tour, she is 152 00:09:13,920 --> 00:09:15,920 Speaker 1: the one who's going to show them around. She knows 153 00:09:15,960 --> 00:09:19,679 Speaker 1: absolutely everything about what's growing right now, what tasks are 154 00:09:19,840 --> 00:09:22,720 Speaker 1: most needed at this moment. We had her present to 155 00:09:22,840 --> 00:09:27,599 Speaker 1: our city council. She is now confident she has expertise. 156 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:30,920 Speaker 1: She doesn't talk about being a farmer at all, but 157 00:09:31,400 --> 00:09:34,560 Speaker 1: he has set up a greenhouse in her backyard. You know, 158 00:09:34,640 --> 00:09:38,880 Speaker 1: she has this knowledge base that is unusual for her peers, 159 00:09:39,040 --> 00:09:42,640 Speaker 1: and she's celebrating herself for that and embracing it and 160 00:09:42,840 --> 00:09:45,840 Speaker 1: growing because of it. I'm curious, are there any sort 161 00:09:45,840 --> 00:09:49,040 Speaker 1: of um success stories that you point to in this 162 00:09:49,360 --> 00:09:52,440 Speaker 1: youth garden that sort of keep you inspired, or or 163 00:09:52,520 --> 00:09:56,880 Speaker 1: that you'd love to let the community know about. Absolutely UM. 164 00:09:56,920 --> 00:09:59,559 Speaker 1: A week ago, two weeks ago, there was a drug 165 00:09:59,640 --> 00:10:03,439 Speaker 1: bust right next to the garden and it was unannounced. 166 00:10:03,559 --> 00:10:06,160 Speaker 1: It was in a duplex where the children on the 167 00:10:06,200 --> 00:10:08,360 Speaker 1: other half of the duplex spend a lot of time 168 00:10:08,400 --> 00:10:12,640 Speaker 1: with us in the garden. We know them well. So Wednesday, 169 00:10:12,640 --> 00:10:16,560 Speaker 1: early evening, the folks in the garden heard loud banging 170 00:10:16,880 --> 00:10:19,360 Speaker 1: and saw a black van pull up. They were setting 171 00:10:19,360 --> 00:10:22,120 Speaker 1: off explosives, they were breaking the door, they were smoking 172 00:10:22,160 --> 00:10:25,840 Speaker 1: them out. It was really scary for those children. So 173 00:10:26,920 --> 00:10:29,400 Speaker 1: you know, the next day they were able to come 174 00:10:29,480 --> 00:10:35,000 Speaker 1: to the garden and escape from that and process their 175 00:10:35,040 --> 00:10:39,319 Speaker 1: feelings about it with with us, with the volunteers and staff. 176 00:10:39,800 --> 00:10:42,160 Speaker 1: If we hadn't been there, where would where would that 177 00:10:42,200 --> 00:10:45,280 Speaker 1: have gone? Especially right now where they're not going to school. 178 00:10:45,760 --> 00:10:50,559 Speaker 1: Nothing's open, so they're not getting to interact with other people. 179 00:10:51,120 --> 00:10:54,080 Speaker 1: So it's hard to see how that need would have 180 00:10:54,120 --> 00:10:57,720 Speaker 1: been met had we not been there. That's wonderful that 181 00:10:57,800 --> 00:11:03,040 Speaker 1: the space that UM. I am curious about family. How 182 00:11:03,040 --> 00:11:07,520 Speaker 1: do you see gardening and exposure to gardening affecting families 183 00:11:07,600 --> 00:11:11,000 Speaker 1: and and maybe even the communication they have within them, 184 00:11:11,000 --> 00:11:16,400 Speaker 1: sharing of skills between parents and children and vice versa, 185 00:11:17,280 --> 00:11:21,800 Speaker 1: children and parents, exploring and experimenting together. I think it's 186 00:11:21,960 --> 00:11:27,040 Speaker 1: so important in forming those bonds between parents and children. 187 00:11:27,760 --> 00:11:30,199 Speaker 1: I think there's a real opportunity to do that with 188 00:11:30,360 --> 00:11:36,079 Speaker 1: gardening in particular. I know I am by far the 189 00:11:36,360 --> 00:11:41,120 Speaker 1: least experienced gardener among the whole crew. With the gardens. No, 190 00:11:41,320 --> 00:11:43,440 Speaker 1: I mean, like I I have nightmares that they're going 191 00:11:43,480 --> 00:11:46,680 Speaker 1: to look at my back. I have to confess. I 192 00:11:46,440 --> 00:11:49,400 Speaker 1: I looked at your Instagram and saw that little vegetable path, 193 00:11:49,520 --> 00:11:52,959 Speaker 1: your prowding up. Yeah. Yeah, it's a little sad, but 194 00:11:53,080 --> 00:11:58,920 Speaker 1: I'm trying. Yeah, yeah, I'm trying. And that's and that's 195 00:11:58,920 --> 00:12:01,880 Speaker 1: the great thing, Like, uh, big deal. The only way 196 00:12:01,880 --> 00:12:04,360 Speaker 1: you're gonna learn is by trying by doing. So I 197 00:12:04,400 --> 00:12:07,960 Speaker 1: think that opportunity to to do that together. I gardened 198 00:12:07,960 --> 00:12:10,720 Speaker 1: with my daughter and she's really into it. So yeah, 199 00:12:10,840 --> 00:12:12,559 Speaker 1: for for me too. I I just look at it 200 00:12:12,600 --> 00:12:16,599 Speaker 1: as this almost this way to um to have conversations 201 00:12:16,640 --> 00:12:21,040 Speaker 1: and root for the same thing. Yeah, exactly, right, right, 202 00:12:21,120 --> 00:12:23,600 Speaker 1: right right U. And and to discuss, oh, you know 203 00:12:23,640 --> 00:12:25,199 Speaker 1: that didn't really work, so what are we going to 204 00:12:25,280 --> 00:12:29,200 Speaker 1: do next year plan for that relationship in the future. 205 00:12:29,240 --> 00:12:31,480 Speaker 1: You know, how do you how do you talk about 206 00:12:31,559 --> 00:12:34,480 Speaker 1: failure at the youth garden When a crop doesn't come 207 00:12:34,559 --> 00:12:37,560 Speaker 1: upright or like the weather effect something, we talk about 208 00:12:37,640 --> 00:12:41,640 Speaker 1: why and discuss what are the inputs or outputs that 209 00:12:41,760 --> 00:12:45,120 Speaker 1: made that happen, so that there's some science and learning there, 210 00:12:45,320 --> 00:12:46,760 Speaker 1: and then brush it off and say, well, this is 211 00:12:46,760 --> 00:12:49,000 Speaker 1: what we're going to do next. You know, one thing 212 00:12:49,000 --> 00:12:51,800 Speaker 1: that I really have been impressed about at the garden 213 00:12:51,920 --> 00:12:56,480 Speaker 1: is that I was afraid that it would feel like 214 00:12:56,640 --> 00:13:01,040 Speaker 1: you had to follow certain rules of best practice because 215 00:13:01,080 --> 00:13:03,800 Speaker 1: there there is a lot of expertise actually that's going 216 00:13:03,840 --> 00:13:06,720 Speaker 1: into this garden, a whole group of people who have 217 00:13:06,800 --> 00:13:10,360 Speaker 1: earned Master Gardeners certification and so they really know what 218 00:13:10,400 --> 00:13:16,480 Speaker 1: they're doing. But there is a real openness to not 219 00:13:17,160 --> 00:13:21,679 Speaker 1: redirecting people in a way that stifles their curiosity. And 220 00:13:21,880 --> 00:13:24,959 Speaker 1: you know, yesterday we we we literally destroyed the entire 221 00:13:25,320 --> 00:13:28,079 Speaker 1: sweet potato catch and I look terrible this morning. I 222 00:13:28,120 --> 00:13:30,200 Speaker 1: was like, oh my gosh, what's our farmer going to say? 223 00:13:30,200 --> 00:13:32,600 Speaker 1: But I know she's going to be really chill with 224 00:13:32,640 --> 00:13:35,200 Speaker 1: it because it's it's just like we're not doing it 225 00:13:35,280 --> 00:13:38,040 Speaker 1: to have a perfect garden. We're doing it too to 226 00:13:38,200 --> 00:13:42,480 Speaker 1: have kids have the experience. I love that. Do you 227 00:13:42,520 --> 00:13:45,120 Speaker 1: find that the kids bond over gardening? Do you see 228 00:13:45,160 --> 00:13:50,280 Speaker 1: friendships emerged in the garden from the programs you run? Absolutely? Absolutely. 229 00:13:50,320 --> 00:13:54,040 Speaker 1: I think this summer in particular, we had some friendships 230 00:13:54,080 --> 00:13:58,319 Speaker 1: pop up among the teens that were seemed unlikely, seemed 231 00:13:58,880 --> 00:14:04,160 Speaker 1: like they might not click, but they did. Really different 232 00:14:04,200 --> 00:14:09,280 Speaker 1: backgrounds and experiences, but just the idea of working hard 233 00:14:09,320 --> 00:14:13,400 Speaker 1: and complaining together about how it is and like, how 234 00:14:13,440 --> 00:14:15,840 Speaker 1: am I? You know? Farming? It's really hard. It's a drag. 235 00:14:15,880 --> 00:14:17,440 Speaker 1: I didn't know what I was going to get into here, 236 00:14:17,559 --> 00:14:19,760 Speaker 1: you know, And oh my gosh, it want us to 237 00:14:19,760 --> 00:14:22,520 Speaker 1: weed again? You know? Didn't we just do that? So 238 00:14:22,920 --> 00:14:26,440 Speaker 1: it forms a camaraderie. I think it's like you're all 239 00:14:26,480 --> 00:14:29,120 Speaker 1: in it together, you know, and it's hard work, the 240 00:14:29,240 --> 00:14:32,400 Speaker 1: hard work, and do that. I am curious, like, as 241 00:14:32,560 --> 00:14:36,320 Speaker 1: you've been in this, uh, this space, what are the 242 00:14:36,400 --> 00:14:39,080 Speaker 1: lessons that you've seen the kids love the most? The 243 00:14:39,160 --> 00:14:42,440 Speaker 1: picking things right off the branch and eating it right away. 244 00:14:42,600 --> 00:14:46,520 Speaker 1: That is super popular, you know, the cherry tomatoes, the strawberries, 245 00:14:46,840 --> 00:14:49,200 Speaker 1: just that direct. I'm gonna grab it. I'm gonna pop 246 00:14:49,240 --> 00:14:52,160 Speaker 1: it in my mouth. You know, that is big. But also, 247 00:14:52,440 --> 00:14:55,760 Speaker 1: you know, finding the worms and talking about what worms do, 248 00:14:56,760 --> 00:14:59,760 Speaker 1: that was that was a big just a big point 249 00:14:59,760 --> 00:15:02,760 Speaker 1: of conversation yesterday. When we're digging up the sweet potatoes, 250 00:15:02,760 --> 00:15:04,760 Speaker 1: the worms were all the focus until we found the snake. 251 00:15:05,200 --> 00:15:08,880 Speaker 1: And when they're picking these vegetables off for these these fruits, 252 00:15:08,920 --> 00:15:12,520 Speaker 1: are they noticing the difference between like supermarket vegetables and 253 00:15:12,560 --> 00:15:16,960 Speaker 1: these Yeah. Absolutely. We actually do taste tests with them. 254 00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:20,480 Speaker 1: So we'll buy, for instance, grocery store cherry tomatoes, bring 255 00:15:20,520 --> 00:15:23,000 Speaker 1: them in and then have them harvests them and then 256 00:15:23,560 --> 00:15:27,920 Speaker 1: have them decide which is better. I'm guessing there's an 257 00:15:27,960 --> 00:15:31,720 Speaker 1: overwhelming favorite. Yeah, there is. I mean, they really can 258 00:15:31,840 --> 00:15:34,440 Speaker 1: tell the difference. There's no question. And you know, it's 259 00:15:34,440 --> 00:15:38,720 Speaker 1: so sad to give kids produce that doesn't taste the 260 00:15:38,760 --> 00:15:42,040 Speaker 1: way it should, because then that implants in their mind, 261 00:15:42,680 --> 00:15:46,320 Speaker 1: well I don't really like cherry tomatoes. But to give 262 00:15:46,360 --> 00:15:49,600 Speaker 1: them a first experience of what it's supposed to be like, 263 00:15:50,200 --> 00:15:53,280 Speaker 1: then they look for that and and appreciated and value 264 00:15:53,280 --> 00:15:56,120 Speaker 1: it and are more more open to different kinds of food. Yeah, 265 00:15:56,160 --> 00:15:59,160 Speaker 1: I'm sure, it's eye opening. Well, are there any vegetables 266 00:15:59,200 --> 00:16:03,720 Speaker 1: that you're surprised like? Yeah, no question. Kale. Apparently kale 267 00:16:03,800 --> 00:16:07,800 Speaker 1: wraps were a big thing for this last all. I 268 00:16:07,880 --> 00:16:10,520 Speaker 1: know it's kind of crazy, but you know, we would 269 00:16:10,680 --> 00:16:13,960 Speaker 1: we would take kale over to the elementary school and 270 00:16:14,000 --> 00:16:17,880 Speaker 1: have kids make veggie wraps with them and they like 271 00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:20,480 Speaker 1: it that way. But you know, it's picked that day 272 00:16:20,520 --> 00:16:24,880 Speaker 1: so that it's super fresh. So I think we have 273 00:16:25,160 --> 00:16:27,600 Speaker 1: you know, a number of listeners out there who are 274 00:16:27,600 --> 00:16:31,200 Speaker 1: probably inspired by your story and the story of this garden. 275 00:16:31,800 --> 00:16:35,440 Speaker 1: How would you ask them to help? We have an 276 00:16:35,440 --> 00:16:40,160 Speaker 1: incredibly beautiful website that was not designed by me but 277 00:16:40,240 --> 00:16:42,880 Speaker 1: by one of our board members and volunteers, you know, 278 00:16:42,920 --> 00:16:45,120 Speaker 1: so they are welcome to come check things out. We 279 00:16:45,200 --> 00:16:48,840 Speaker 1: have a wishless people can volunteer if they're in Columbus. 280 00:16:48,880 --> 00:16:52,000 Speaker 1: But I think the bigger, bigger question is we all 281 00:16:52,040 --> 00:16:56,480 Speaker 1: need our communities in this country to turn their attention 282 00:16:56,520 --> 00:17:00,080 Speaker 1: to our food system. Look at how much it fell 283 00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:05,200 Speaker 1: apart during this pandemic. Turning your attention into your own backyard, 284 00:17:05,640 --> 00:17:08,800 Speaker 1: learning how to to grow yourself and be a little 285 00:17:08,840 --> 00:17:12,360 Speaker 1: more self sufficient, support your farmer's market. Look for those 286 00:17:12,400 --> 00:17:14,600 Speaker 1: community guardens to spring up and get out there and 287 00:17:14,600 --> 00:17:18,560 Speaker 1: get your hands dirty and participate. It's really essential. I 288 00:17:18,600 --> 00:17:22,840 Speaker 1: think as we move into the next fifty years that 289 00:17:22,960 --> 00:17:26,120 Speaker 1: we all reconnect with how food has grown and get 290 00:17:26,160 --> 00:17:32,679 Speaker 1: more directly involved. I couldn't agree more humans growing stuff 291 00:17:32,680 --> 00:17:40,920 Speaker 1: will be right back. After a short break in first grade, 292 00:17:41,000 --> 00:17:44,080 Speaker 1: I entered an invention contest. I took a glow in 293 00:17:44,119 --> 00:17:46,040 Speaker 1: the dark triangle and I glued it to the flap 294 00:17:46,040 --> 00:17:48,560 Speaker 1: where you open your tent. And I figured that way, 295 00:17:48,640 --> 00:17:50,520 Speaker 1: if you had to run outside to use the bathroom 296 00:17:50,560 --> 00:17:52,520 Speaker 1: in the middle of the night, you'd see that flap 297 00:17:52,520 --> 00:17:54,880 Speaker 1: and be able to open the zip quickly. And I 298 00:17:54,960 --> 00:17:57,600 Speaker 1: was so proud of this thing. But when it came 299 00:17:57,640 --> 00:18:00,600 Speaker 1: time to vote for the best class invention, I lost 300 00:18:00,600 --> 00:18:03,680 Speaker 1: to a girl who invented a lollipop bush. Her idea 301 00:18:03,760 --> 00:18:05,200 Speaker 1: was that you could plan a seed and this bush 302 00:18:05,240 --> 00:18:07,840 Speaker 1: would grow lollipops. And no one knew how it worked, 303 00:18:08,000 --> 00:18:10,360 Speaker 1: but you brought in a small shrub with lollipops stuck 304 00:18:10,400 --> 00:18:14,000 Speaker 1: inside it, and everyone voted for it, including me. It 305 00:18:14,080 --> 00:18:18,040 Speaker 1: was a superior idea, and we all wanted lollipop. The 306 00:18:18,040 --> 00:18:21,720 Speaker 1: truth is kids have the best ideas. Sometimes they're impractical, 307 00:18:21,920 --> 00:18:25,720 Speaker 1: sometimes they are irrational, but often mixed into that ridiculousness 308 00:18:25,840 --> 00:18:30,000 Speaker 1: is this wonderful wisdom and room for possibility and also 309 00:18:30,280 --> 00:18:34,200 Speaker 1: joy that I really need right now. So I sent 310 00:18:34,240 --> 00:18:36,760 Speaker 1: out my fifth grader, Henry and my producer Molly to 311 00:18:36,800 --> 00:18:39,320 Speaker 1: talk to a few kid gardeners about what they love 312 00:18:39,359 --> 00:18:46,440 Speaker 1: about gardening and what's the best way to get started. Hi, Jared, 313 00:18:46,560 --> 00:18:51,000 Speaker 1: how are you. I'm glad, I'm great. Thanks for asking. 314 00:18:51,400 --> 00:18:56,320 Speaker 1: So I took my dad's mike and I'm hiding in 315 00:18:56,400 --> 00:19:01,120 Speaker 1: my closet and I took over his girl Name Podcast 316 00:19:02,800 --> 00:19:06,560 Speaker 1: Question number one A j we have a gardening class 317 00:19:06,560 --> 00:19:12,240 Speaker 1: in our school and you are the only person who listens. 318 00:19:12,800 --> 00:19:16,120 Speaker 1: What do you like about gardening? I really just care 319 00:19:16,160 --> 00:19:19,400 Speaker 1: about plants, and it's fun to be outside and doing 320 00:19:19,640 --> 00:19:24,200 Speaker 1: like planting flowers and seeds, and it's just put fun 321 00:19:24,400 --> 00:19:27,040 Speaker 1: to do because you're like hoping to old, and you're 322 00:19:27,080 --> 00:19:30,479 Speaker 1: like hoping yourself just like get some time, just relieve 323 00:19:30,560 --> 00:19:33,760 Speaker 1: from extress with like school work and all that. It's 324 00:19:33,800 --> 00:19:37,080 Speaker 1: a good place to just little and like calm down. 325 00:19:38,200 --> 00:19:42,600 Speaker 1: It's also good place stuff I had and seek. So 326 00:19:42,720 --> 00:19:44,879 Speaker 1: what do you when you think of a garden, what 327 00:19:44,920 --> 00:19:47,600 Speaker 1: do you think of it? And I think of a garden, 328 00:19:48,560 --> 00:19:53,879 Speaker 1: I do think of like something beautiful flowers and no 329 00:19:54,359 --> 00:19:56,840 Speaker 1: all like the types of from you notice that it's 330 00:19:56,880 --> 00:20:00,480 Speaker 1: a really beautiful thing to have in this world. And 331 00:20:00,520 --> 00:20:02,439 Speaker 1: we would we don't know where we would be if 332 00:20:02,440 --> 00:20:07,200 Speaker 1: we didn't have that. You are right. My name is Donardo, 333 00:20:07,359 --> 00:20:12,080 Speaker 1: my age is ten, and I live in Texas. Tell 334 00:20:12,160 --> 00:20:14,440 Speaker 1: me how you got into gardening. How did it all start. 335 00:20:14,680 --> 00:20:17,600 Speaker 1: I got into gardening because my mom wanted an herb 336 00:20:17,680 --> 00:20:21,280 Speaker 1: garden to put in or her food so she didn't 337 00:20:21,280 --> 00:20:23,520 Speaker 1: have to buy it. So we got a few basic 338 00:20:23,560 --> 00:20:27,240 Speaker 1: herbs like basil and other herbs and started growing them, 339 00:20:27,920 --> 00:20:30,760 Speaker 1: and me, being the lazy person as usual, did not 340 00:20:30,880 --> 00:20:35,280 Speaker 1: water them. Later I got I got into cooking because 341 00:20:35,720 --> 00:20:38,320 Speaker 1: women are usually the ones cooking at home and I 342 00:20:38,359 --> 00:20:42,480 Speaker 1: don't want to change that because that's kind of stupid, sculpting, sexist. 343 00:20:43,080 --> 00:20:45,360 Speaker 1: And that's when I started to fall in love with 344 00:20:45,440 --> 00:20:50,280 Speaker 1: the herbs because they can produce stacks on stacks on 345 00:20:50,400 --> 00:20:53,679 Speaker 1: stacks of herbs that I can use in my food 346 00:20:54,080 --> 00:20:57,720 Speaker 1: so that tastes better for free. If you had to 347 00:20:57,760 --> 00:21:00,360 Speaker 1: like sum it up, what do you love most smoker thing. 348 00:21:00,800 --> 00:21:04,080 Speaker 1: It's really the harvesting that makes it that makes it 349 00:21:04,240 --> 00:21:08,000 Speaker 1: good because you know you you, I mean like you 350 00:21:08,040 --> 00:21:11,879 Speaker 1: get stuff from it. It's it's just a reward after 351 00:21:12,040 --> 00:21:14,440 Speaker 1: how long you've waited, because plus the time to grow, 352 00:21:14,680 --> 00:21:16,639 Speaker 1: plus like a lot of time to grow. Take their 353 00:21:16,720 --> 00:21:22,360 Speaker 1: sweet times. Hi, I'm raaking and I'm for you all. 354 00:21:23,720 --> 00:21:27,520 Speaker 1: What's your favorite plant to grow and to take care of? 355 00:21:28,200 --> 00:21:34,639 Speaker 1: Cucumbert Yeah? How are they your favorite? And very really yammy? Yeah. 356 00:21:34,680 --> 00:21:37,520 Speaker 1: If there was one vegetable that you would not want 357 00:21:37,520 --> 00:21:39,159 Speaker 1: to grow that you would want to take out of 358 00:21:39,160 --> 00:21:43,520 Speaker 1: the garden, which vegetable would it be? Camga? I don't 359 00:21:43,560 --> 00:21:48,400 Speaker 1: like camados. Tomatoes are my favorite. Reagan, I know camato 360 00:21:48,480 --> 00:21:51,840 Speaker 1: is doing. I'm bigger. What's the funniest thing that's ever 361 00:21:51,920 --> 00:21:56,680 Speaker 1: happened to you while you're gardening? The birds eating noise plants? 362 00:21:56,720 --> 00:22:00,440 Speaker 1: The birds eat your plants. Do they have a favorite 363 00:22:00,440 --> 00:22:05,680 Speaker 1: plant to eat? Which one? Cucumber? They like cucumbers too. 364 00:22:07,280 --> 00:22:12,080 Speaker 1: Do you think planting and gardening is good for the earth? Yes? Yeah, 365 00:22:12,119 --> 00:22:17,520 Speaker 1: why Hey, it's good, great answer, great answer. Do you 366 00:22:17,560 --> 00:22:22,280 Speaker 1: sing to your plants? Leo, I'm thinking of doing that. Yeah, 367 00:22:22,440 --> 00:22:27,680 Speaker 1: I feel like they'll grow better because they're happy. Oh, 368 00:22:27,760 --> 00:22:30,359 Speaker 1: the actually like you? What would you? Can you give 369 00:22:30,400 --> 00:22:31,840 Speaker 1: me a little like? What would you sing to them? 370 00:22:32,520 --> 00:22:35,520 Speaker 1: So maybe like children, mobile bies or something? Can you 371 00:22:35,520 --> 00:22:37,560 Speaker 1: give me a little taste? Imagine I'm a plant leasing 372 00:22:37,600 --> 00:22:43,160 Speaker 1: to me green under the moon? How beautiful and shiny 373 00:22:43,200 --> 00:22:49,639 Speaker 1: are you? Bathing under some like bathing under the moon? Like, oh, 374 00:22:49,640 --> 00:22:57,960 Speaker 1: how green and tasty are you? Hey? Everyone, here are 375 00:22:58,080 --> 00:23:01,399 Speaker 1: four simple tips getting your kids in the garden and 376 00:23:01,440 --> 00:23:05,720 Speaker 1: getting them to love it. Give them their own space. 377 00:23:06,240 --> 00:23:09,360 Speaker 1: Choose a little plot of garden that's not too small 378 00:23:09,640 --> 00:23:12,439 Speaker 1: and just let them dig in. Let them see what 379 00:23:12,480 --> 00:23:14,879 Speaker 1: it feels like to have their own little plot to weed, 380 00:23:15,040 --> 00:23:20,159 Speaker 1: and tend to get them kids sized tools. When they 381 00:23:20,240 --> 00:23:22,159 Speaker 1: have their very own set of tools, they're going to 382 00:23:22,280 --> 00:23:24,960 Speaker 1: want to use them, and they'll feel more invested in 383 00:23:25,000 --> 00:23:28,040 Speaker 1: getting out there each week and caring for the plants. Also, 384 00:23:28,400 --> 00:23:30,960 Speaker 1: using tools that fit more comfortably in their smaller hands 385 00:23:31,000 --> 00:23:34,840 Speaker 1: will make tasks a lot easier for them, and it's 386 00:23:34,880 --> 00:23:40,880 Speaker 1: pretty adorable. Brag show them how proud you are, take photos, 387 00:23:41,080 --> 00:23:44,480 Speaker 1: use positive words of encouragement, and use what they're growing 388 00:23:44,520 --> 00:23:47,600 Speaker 1: and you're cooking. Let them choose what they want to grow. 389 00:23:47,840 --> 00:23:50,119 Speaker 1: Maybe it's a pizza garden where they think about all 390 00:23:50,160 --> 00:23:53,560 Speaker 1: their favorite toppings, or maybe it's something else. Maybe it's 391 00:23:53,560 --> 00:23:56,880 Speaker 1: all their favorite flowers. But a pro tip here, try 392 00:23:56,920 --> 00:23:59,560 Speaker 1: to steer them towards plants that grow a little faster, 393 00:23:59,800 --> 00:24:03,280 Speaker 1: like radishes or loosely flattish or even sunflowers, which can 394 00:24:03,280 --> 00:24:05,760 Speaker 1: sprout up within seven days and can grow up to 395 00:24:05,840 --> 00:24:17,160 Speaker 1: two ft in a month. When the days are long 396 00:24:17,200 --> 00:24:20,199 Speaker 1: and we've each been looking at our own screens, the 397 00:24:20,280 --> 00:24:22,320 Speaker 1: easiest thing for us to do as a family has 398 00:24:22,359 --> 00:24:25,080 Speaker 1: been to sit on a couch and just focus on 399 00:24:25,080 --> 00:24:29,000 Speaker 1: one screen. We watched baking shows and travel shows and 400 00:24:29,080 --> 00:24:33,520 Speaker 1: sometimes old movies, things that are feel good and often 401 00:24:33,640 --> 00:24:37,439 Speaker 1: vaguely educational. But early into the pandemic we tried to 402 00:24:37,480 --> 00:24:40,520 Speaker 1: move away from that. We used to do a mocktail hour, 403 00:24:40,960 --> 00:24:44,040 Speaker 1: and so every day at six pm, we'd break and 404 00:24:44,240 --> 00:24:47,360 Speaker 1: blend things with ice and then toast and sipped together. 405 00:24:48,600 --> 00:24:52,359 Speaker 1: But sometime around June we lost steam. I ordered a 406 00:24:52,359 --> 00:24:56,160 Speaker 1: bunch of kits online, these cardboard pinball machines you could assemble, 407 00:24:56,600 --> 00:25:00,200 Speaker 1: and we spent one glorious rainy afternoon doing just at 408 00:25:00,880 --> 00:25:03,840 Speaker 1: the kids loved it, but now those pinball machines just 409 00:25:03,840 --> 00:25:09,800 Speaker 1: gotta sit stacked in a corner. Gardening, though, that's been different. 410 00:25:11,359 --> 00:25:15,399 Speaker 1: There's always something to do and learn. Sometimes it's moving 411 00:25:15,440 --> 00:25:18,359 Speaker 1: plants around or just turning them to face the sun. 412 00:25:19,600 --> 00:25:21,960 Speaker 1: Sometimes it's taking a pair of scissors and learning that 413 00:25:22,000 --> 00:25:24,679 Speaker 1: you can cut a stem and grow a whole new plant. 414 00:25:25,560 --> 00:25:27,960 Speaker 1: Sometimes it's just planning for what we hope will happen, 415 00:25:28,800 --> 00:25:31,560 Speaker 1: knowing that only some of our gardening ambitions will actually 416 00:25:31,560 --> 00:25:34,600 Speaker 1: come to be. There are lots of studies about the 417 00:25:34,640 --> 00:25:38,600 Speaker 1: positive effects gardening has, especially on children. We heard some 418 00:25:38,640 --> 00:25:41,200 Speaker 1: of it from Shelley, but kids who grow their own 419 00:25:41,240 --> 00:25:44,480 Speaker 1: food are more likely to eat fresh fruits and vegetables, 420 00:25:44,520 --> 00:25:48,240 Speaker 1: and they express a preference for those foods. Kids in 421 00:25:48,280 --> 00:25:51,359 Speaker 1: schools where gardening is part of the curriculum do better 422 00:25:51,440 --> 00:25:55,640 Speaker 1: on science tests. Kids who spend time in outdoor gardens 423 00:25:55,680 --> 00:25:59,960 Speaker 1: show improved attitudes in the classroom, and gardens helped kids 424 00:26:00,040 --> 00:26:03,520 Speaker 1: form a deeper relationship with plants and trees, all of 425 00:26:03,560 --> 00:26:06,359 Speaker 1: which gives them an increased desire to take care of 426 00:26:06,400 --> 00:26:09,800 Speaker 1: the environment. This is from studies that have been taking 427 00:26:09,800 --> 00:26:12,840 Speaker 1: place for the last twenty years, and the evidence is 428 00:26:12,920 --> 00:26:17,880 Speaker 1: really overwhelming. But for my part, I've realized that gardening 429 00:26:17,880 --> 00:26:21,880 Speaker 1: as a family has really brought us together. My kids 430 00:26:21,920 --> 00:26:26,199 Speaker 1: are curious, so they're always asking questions, a few of 431 00:26:26,200 --> 00:26:29,680 Speaker 1: which I can answer and many that I can't. But 432 00:26:29,800 --> 00:26:32,359 Speaker 1: that's great too, because it gives us a chance to 433 00:26:32,440 --> 00:26:36,040 Speaker 1: look things up together. But more than that, there's a 434 00:26:36,280 --> 00:26:40,040 Speaker 1: quiet comfort that comes from being in the yard. Every 435 00:26:40,040 --> 00:26:43,040 Speaker 1: parent has their own struggles, their own things that they're 436 00:26:43,119 --> 00:26:46,840 Speaker 1: trying to help their kids work through. For some, it 437 00:26:46,920 --> 00:26:49,600 Speaker 1: may be talking through how to respond to bullies or 438 00:26:50,080 --> 00:26:53,159 Speaker 1: instilling pride for their culture even as they face a 439 00:26:53,200 --> 00:26:56,960 Speaker 1: world that doesn't understand and tells them to hide their differences. 440 00:26:58,320 --> 00:27:00,439 Speaker 1: For me, one of my children does want to be 441 00:27:00,480 --> 00:27:03,760 Speaker 1: defined by their gender. They don't want to defend themselves 442 00:27:03,800 --> 00:27:06,720 Speaker 1: every time they go to the bathroom or explain over 443 00:27:06,760 --> 00:27:10,640 Speaker 1: and over through a day who they are. And it's 444 00:27:10,680 --> 00:27:12,679 Speaker 1: hard to watch your kiddo go out into the world 445 00:27:12,720 --> 00:27:16,240 Speaker 1: and constantly have to stand up for themselves. But in 446 00:27:16,280 --> 00:27:22,400 Speaker 1: the garden, it's a place you can just be. Everyone 447 00:27:22,480 --> 00:27:25,720 Speaker 1: is welcome among the basil and the sunflowers. You don't 448 00:27:25,760 --> 00:27:29,159 Speaker 1: have to identify as anything, or explain your gender or 449 00:27:29,280 --> 00:27:33,359 Speaker 1: race or religion to anyone. The plants don't care about that. 450 00:27:34,080 --> 00:27:36,480 Speaker 1: You can just dig a little and pour some water, 451 00:27:36,840 --> 00:27:41,280 Speaker 1: hopefully not too much, and wait, you can make bad 452 00:27:41,359 --> 00:27:44,200 Speaker 1: jokes and laugh and get dirty. It's a place for 453 00:27:44,280 --> 00:27:47,399 Speaker 1: all of us to slow down and focus on caring, 454 00:27:48,560 --> 00:27:51,040 Speaker 1: because when you think about it, that's all these plants 455 00:27:51,040 --> 00:27:54,560 Speaker 1: are asking of us. To come as you are, pay 456 00:27:54,600 --> 00:27:58,119 Speaker 1: attention to the world sprouting around you, and spend some 457 00:27:58,200 --> 00:28:02,680 Speaker 1: time caring for another living thing, and every once in 458 00:28:02,720 --> 00:28:09,280 Speaker 1: a while sing green under the moon, Oh how beautiful 459 00:28:09,320 --> 00:28:14,560 Speaker 1: and shiny are you? Bathing under some like bathing under 460 00:28:14,600 --> 00:28:19,400 Speaker 1: the moon, like, oh how green and tasty are you. 461 00:28:25,760 --> 00:28:28,359 Speaker 1: That's it for today's episode. Don't forget whether you're a 462 00:28:28,400 --> 00:28:31,679 Speaker 1: beginner like me, a pro trying something new, or someone 463 00:28:31,760 --> 00:28:35,760 Speaker 1: in between enjoying your community garden. There are incredible resources 464 00:28:35,800 --> 00:28:38,680 Speaker 1: waiting for you on the Miracle Grow website. Next time 465 00:28:38,720 --> 00:28:41,800 Speaker 1: on our show, we'll focus on the underrepresented gardeners, those 466 00:28:41,840 --> 00:28:44,160 Speaker 1: who have always been getting their hands dirty but aren't 467 00:28:44,160 --> 00:28:46,440 Speaker 1: always a part of the narrative. If you like what 468 00:28:46,520 --> 00:28:48,640 Speaker 1: you heard, don't forget to rate and review the show 469 00:28:48,680 --> 00:28:51,640 Speaker 1: on Apple Podcasts. It really helps us out and we 470 00:28:51,680 --> 00:28:53,760 Speaker 1: want to hear from you. What are your inspiring plant 471 00:28:53,840 --> 00:28:57,600 Speaker 1: stories and relatable struggles and growing questions? Tag us in 472 00:28:57,600 --> 00:29:00,719 Speaker 1: your post or tweet using the hashtag Human Growing Stuff 473 00:29:01,240 --> 00:29:03,120 Speaker 1: and you may just hear your story featured on an 474 00:29:03,160 --> 00:29:06,280 Speaker 1: upcoming episode. Humans Growing Stuff is a collaboration from I 475 00:29:06,360 --> 00:29:08,920 Speaker 1: Heart Radio and your friends at Miracle Grow. Our show 476 00:29:08,960 --> 00:29:11,320 Speaker 1: was written and produced by Molly Sosha and me Mangy 477 00:29:11,440 --> 00:29:15,959 Speaker 1: Chatigler in partnership with Ryan Ovadia, Daniel Ainsworth, Hayley Ericsson, 478 00:29:16,040 --> 00:29:19,840 Speaker 1: and Garrett Shannon of Banter Until next Time, Thanks so 479 00:29:19,920 --> 00:29:20,640 Speaker 1: much for listening.