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Outdoors Episode

Urban Sprouts I

Walter working in the garden Izz

Today we're talking to our friends Walter and Abby over at Urban Sprouts. Thanks for talking with us! Walter, what is Urban Sprouts?

Walter

It's a gardening program that teaches students about nature.

Izz

How can you have a garden in the middle of a city?

Walter

You can go to a community garden or a school garden.

Abby

You can start a garden at your house. If you don't have a yard, you can plant veggies in window boxes or in old dresser drawers, bathtubs, or even old shoes filled up with soil.

Izz

What do you have to do to take care of your garden?

Walter

You have to weed, water your plants, and watch over it every day.

Izz

Did you ever try talking to the plants? I hear they like that.

Walter

Never tried it.

Abby

A lot of kids say you have to treat the plants gently like babies. I've definitely heard some kids singing in the garden.

Dex

Can you get out of class to work in the garden?

Abby

The whole class goes to the garden together, at least every other week during science class. Gardening IS class!

Izz

What's your favorite plant in the garden? What else do you grow?

Walter Harvested carrots in the garden

Strawberries and other kinds of edible plants, like salad, bok choi, broccoli, lettuce, tomatoes, carrots and green beans.

Izz

Who eats the food you grow?

Walter

We do, and our families.

Abby Urban Sprouts cookbook

We also harvest, cook and eat the foods with the whole class during school. We make meals like veggie stir fry cooked in a Chinese wok, spaghetti with red sauce, cooked collard greens, and burritos with salsa.

Dex

Did you ever find anything gross in the garden?

Walter

Nope.

Abby Snail on a leaf

Walter is tough! Nothing grosses him out. I've seen other kids sprinkle salt on snails and mix them up like a soup. That is pretty disgusting.

Izz

What advice would you give kids who want to start their own garden?

Walter

Once you start don't give up and don't be lazy.

Abby

If we can do it, you can too!

Izz

Thanks, Walter and Abby! Abby gives us the inside scoop about what inspires her, what organic means and tips for how you can start a garden. Check it out!