Just for Kids

By Mifi Purvis

AMAZE-ing Containers

In April, school kids from around the province visited Northlands’
AMAZE-ing Agriculture program to learn a little more about where Alberta’s food comes from. Kids worked their way around a maze and stopped at different displays to learn more about farming from different commodity groups, such as pork, canola and chicken, to name a few.

Students met the animals, big and small, and learned tips to grow great veggie gardens by companion planting (putting together plants that can help each other grow). The students, from kindergarten to Grade 6, found out that you don’t need tons of room to grow veggies. In fact, some classes even accepted the challenge to plant a small container garden filled with companion plants. Totem Building Supplies and North-lands gave the kids supplies - including wheelbarrows as the container - and classes went to work.

“We learned that you can plant tall plants with smaller, shade-loving plants,” says Karen Krasowski-Payne, a teacher at Edmonton’s Sifton Elementary School (one of several participating schools). “We planted tomatoes with marigolds because bugs don’t like the smell of marigolds,” says Ms. K. “And onions help keep pests away from cucumbers.” The results - wheelbarrows filled with lush, green veggies - were displayed in the summer during Capital EX.

Happier together

The strong fragrance of some herbs and flowers make them good veggie companions. Plant these together:

• tomatoes and basil
• beans and onions
• radishes and cucumber
• carrots and leeks
• potatoes and nasturtiums
• beans and marigolds
• lettuce, carrots and radish