On Saturday, May 30, Edible Flint hosted Children’s Day at the Farm at the Edible Flint Educational Farm in Flint. It is the first of three events from May until September. The event included volunteers and families who spent the morning planting in the garden, potting plants, playing games and storytime sessions. This event was sponsored by a grant through the Flint & Genesee Literacy Network after partnering with the MSU Extension-Genesee County in Flint.
The grant Edible Flint received from the Flint & Genesee Literacy Network was originally used for storytime sessions at Edible Flint’s farm, but eventually it grew to support more events like field trips, crafts, farm walks and planting activities.
Lauralyn Handyside, the director of Edible Flint, said that she looks forward to these events to see volunteers and families engage in the activities.
“These are my favorite days of the year. I love when people volunteer, when people take their kids with them. It is so fun to see them engage in this space,” Handyside said. “It’s just a fun way to experience the farm and for families to be engaged in this space and hopefully come back or be inspired to start their own gardens at home”.
Handyside said that the work Edible Flint is doing is important because it is showing the new generation how to make healthy food choices and interact with nature on a personal level.
Hailey Hunter, a recent high school graduate and volunteer, said Children’s Day at the Farm is a great place to learn.
“If anyone wants to learn how to garden, I think this is a great place,” Hunter said.“Weeding, harvesting, planting – at these events, I think it’s a great place to learn things”.
Brian Hessner, a parent who attended the event with his daughter Eedie Hessner, said that Eedie enjoyed her time at the event.
“I think her favorite part was planting in the kids’ garden,” Brian said. “I know the director, and our other friends also take their kids here”.
