A Day in MacGregor Recipe Gardens by Annabel Fonseka

Guest Volunteer
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It is so satisfying to volunteer weekly at McGregor Elementary in the Recipe for Success Foundation (RFS) Recipe Garden with "Miss Sharon" as all the kids call her. First, she is quite a celebrity around the school.  Faces light and hands go up as they answer her questions. Some students shout "I love tomatoes," "I Love the Garden" or "I Love Turnips".  Their enthusiasm is impressive- and catching. 

Second, it's so fun to see the concentration as they sow their pinch of seeds!  "Miss Sharon"- aka Sharon Siehl, Director of Recipe Gardens for RFS, makes the garden visually interesting by planting a pattern of red and green lettuces or mixing edible Calendula  flowers in with vegetables.  If it is not their turn to plant, I may take a group with magnifying glasses to "discover" bugs or new seedlings. The students are all so excited by the freedom to explore and thrilled by what they find.  

Third, the students make volunteering for RFS a joy by saying the cutest things. I have a British accent and so I say tomato and potato a little differently - much to their delight.  One little boy said to me "You're from London aren't you. That's   where they speak Chinese!!!"  Every conversation is turned into a lesson that expands their knowledge. 

As the seeds grow, the pride the children and MacGregor teachers take in the garden is evident- they even use some recess time to water the plants.  When I first looked into volunteering with RFS, I knew I was interested in helping in the Recipe Gardens.  But, even I was pleasantly surprised with how much of a delight it is to watch those children absorb the gardening lessons.  

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