Smart Farm Holds Free Kids Gardening Lesson

The Kids Feeding Kids Club, a local Barrington charity, partnered with Smart Farm of Barrington to sponsor a free gardening lesson to kids on Thursday, June 7 and Friday, June 8, 2012.

“We thought it would be a good idea to do something with Smart Farm since they try to feed the hungry like we do,” said Club founder Carson Pazdan, age 8. 

Kathy Tabak, a Smart Farm volunteer, explained to the kids, “You know how you just raised all of that canned and non-perishable food for the food pantry with the Food Drive Thru? We do the same thing except our food donations come from this garden and are fresh vegetables."

The Smart Farm is an educational garden for the Barrington area and nearby communities. Adults, children, and students learn about their agricultural heritage, organic gardening, the slow food movement, and best practices for living "green," sustainable lives.

Smart Farm volunteers gave the Kids Feeding Kids Club members a tour of the garden, had the kids harvest and taste vegetables and help plant cucumbers and cabbages.  “This is such a wonderful place and a great way to spend a beautiful day,” said club member Paisley Schmitt’s mother, Anne.

“We thought this would be a fantastic opportunity to kick off summer by showing the kids yet another way of how they can help make a difference to end hunger in their community,” said Carson Pazdan’s mother, Alyssa. The Kids Feeding Kids Club donated tomato plants to every child who attended in the hopes that they would plant and care for each plant at their home and donate the harvest to a food pantry.

This partnership with Smart Farm aligns nicely with the Club’s mission to build awareness, compassion and a foundation of philanthropy.

“It was a lot of fun and now I am going to take care of my tomato plant and donate the tomatoes when they are ripe to people that need help,” said club member Ryan Shimp.

Next, the Kids Feeding Kids Club will be presenting a red carpet family fundraiser, A Magical Matinee…Casting a Spell to End Hunger, at iPic Theatres in the Arboretum of South Barrington Nov. 3, 2012. You can visit www.kidsfeedingkids.info for more information.