The Children's Garden Project

This engaging video highlights an alternative summer recreation program for children which had great success in Durango, Colorado. The idea was to offer something different from the standard sports program--and the result was certainly off the beaten track. After a plot of land was rented, children were shown how to plant, maintain, and ultimately harvest their own sections of the garden. Paul, the one full-time staffperson hired to supervise the garden, talks about the relative ease of working with the kids (children are happy with the basics, and don't require a lot of technical gardening info to get up and running). The kids also talk about their experiences with gardening, and what they've learned. At the end of the tape, they are shown selling their produce to local buyers. The only drawback to an otherwise quite charming and sensible program is the fact that the garden is situated right next to a highway, and occasionally traffic noise competes with kids being interviewed. While the tape itself does not cover the specifics of starting up a children's gardening program, the accompanying 15-page booklet does discuss the particulars of planting, weeding, watering, harvesting, etc. An unusual tape about an excellent idea for the community. Highly recommended. (Available from: Video-11, P.O. Box 1429, Durango, CO 81302; 1-800-843-3611.)