It need never become spectator sport. Today's children are going to be next years plant scientists and horticulturists. By giving our children hands-on gardening experience may lead some of them to pursue a career in agriculture, where they can develope new varieties of plants and cultural techniques that are not only friendly to our taste buds but to our health and our environment as well. Although obtaining a suitable site is a good start the implementation of any plans for a successful garden depends on dedicated personnel, proper equipment adequate funding and realistic plans. Gardening is a healthy recreational activity in which all can participate.
Recreational gardening is just as worthy of support as any other activity involving children.
The most important resource for any children's or community garden is a dedicated human resource. Although there is no shortage of people who are dedicated to community activities in the towns and villages of the Prairie provinces, most have been 'volunteered' to the limit, so I will try to give some indication about how much time a children's garden project would take. Since growing children have many and varying interests they may only be willing to spend about four hours a week on a garden. The original children's garden plan described here was developed by Mr. Gerald Bitney for the Winnipeg School Division Number 1. In this plan a child could take care of a garden by devoting two hours twice a week working at the garden.