October 10, 2026 | Garden Exploration, Hydroponics & Hands-On Discovery
There’s something special about watching young gardeners step into a new growing space with curiosity, confidence, and a willingness to get their hands dirty!
On Saturday, October 10, 2026, Dew of Heaven Children’s Garden (DHCG) participants visited Classroom Crops for a morning of garden exploration, harvesting, planting, and discovering a new way to grow food—without soil!
A Garden Full of Surprises
Tucked beside a large church building and behind a towering tree, Classroom Crops’ garden welcomed us with a few unexpected surprises.
Ms. JoAnn greeted us with a warm smile and an armful of colorful pool noodles. Pool noodles in a garden? We were curious, too!
After introductions, she guided us past freshly harvested sweet potato vines and a garden shed toward a narrow entrance lined with colorful foliage. We formed a single-file line and made our way into the garden, where we met Mrs. Gwen, who was busy planting collards beneath protective netting.
After another round of introductions, our young gardeners received an invitation they were more than happy to accept: Explore freely!
Eight long, low garden beds rested on a bed of natural bark, each equipped with its own sprinkler. The young participants wasted no time putting their senses and gardening knowledge to work.
They smelled, touched, tasted, and confidently identified familiar crops, including basil, peppers, okra, and sage. They even harvested basil, okra, and sage, leaving the peppers to mature a little longer.
The real adventure began when everyone decided to sample their harvest. Fresh basil? Delicious! Raw okra? Worth a try! A fresh jalapeño pepper? Well, one brave young gardener quickly discovered just how much heat a pepper can pack! A few quick sips of water followed.
Watching our young participants navigate an unfamiliar garden with such ease was a proud moment. Their confidence, curiosity, and willingness to explore reflected the foundation they’ve built through hands-on experiences at DHCG.
From Harvesting to Planting
Once the garden had been thoroughly explored, Mrs. Gwen invited the participants to help plant three new additions to a garden bed.
She prepared the planting holes while the young gardeners sprinkled bone meal fertilizer into the soil. One by one, they carefully received the young plants, guided them into place, and gently covered and patted the soil around them with encouragement from Ms. JoAnn.
It was a beautiful exchange of knowledge between generations, with experienced gardeners sharing their skills and young hands putting them into practice.
Before we knew it, it was time to head indoors for another discovery!
Pool Noodles, Bright Lights, and Growing Without Soil!
Remember those pool noodles Ms. JoAnn was carrying when we arrived? Their purpose was finally revealed!
Inside the classroom stood four tall hydroponic growing racks, complete with containers, seed-starting trays, and bright white grow lights.
Hydroponics is a method of growing plants without soil, using water and dissolved nutrients to support plant growth.
Classroom Crops embraces upcycling and repurposing everyday materials, including plastic bottles, wood, and even pool noodles, to create practical growing systems.
In their hydroponic setup, pieces of pool noodles served as plant supports, replacing traditional growing cups. The young participants immediately recognized the familiar material, making the growing system feel approachable rather than complicated.
Who knew a pool noodle could help grow lettuce?
With Ms. JoAnn’s guidance, participants helped water plants in the growing system. Mrs. Gwen then introduced several lettuce varieties and invited everyone to start their own young plants.
Each participant carefully worked with the delicate seedlings before Ms. JoAnn placed their completed tray beneath the bright grow lights.
One young gardener even declared planting the baby plants their favorite part of the experience!
Best of all, the discovery doesn’t have to end here. Mrs. Gwen invited our participants to return, observe their lettuce as it grows, and help transplant it outdoors when the plants are ready.
Learning Spotlight: Growing Food in New Ways
What is hydroponics?
Hydroponics allows plants to grow without traditional garden soil. Instead, plants receive essential nutrients through water, while their roots are supported by materials or growing structures.
What did our young gardeners discover?
- Plant identification: Using sight, smell, touch, and taste to recognize familiar crops.
- Harvesting with care: Learning which vegetables and herbs are ready to harvest and which need more growing time.
- Transplanting: Handling young plants gently and establishing them in a garden bed.
- Hydroponic growing: Discovering how plants can thrive without soil when their water, nutrients, light, and other needs are met.
- Upcycling: Exploring how everyday materials can be repurposed into useful gardening tools.
Try This at Home!
The next time you finish using a plastic bottle, consider how it might serve a new purpose in your garden. With adult assistance, a clean plastic bottle can become a seed starter, a watering tool, or part of a simple growing experiment.
Big discoveries often begin with ordinary objects and a little imagination!
A Heartfelt Thank You!
DHCG extends a special thank-you to Quinston, founder of Classroom Crops, and to Ms. JoAnn and Mrs. Gwen for welcoming our young gardeners and creating such an engaging, hands-on experience. Your generosity, patience, and willingness to share your knowledge made this visit truly memorable.
We also thank the Winston County Self Help Cooperative for sponsoring this field day and continuing to support meaningful agricultural discovery opportunities for our youth.
Together, we’re cultivating more than gardens. We’re growing a generation of curious, confident, and resourceful young people!
