Summer in the Garden With Tots

Members of Beth Sholom Congregation in Elkins Park, along with children at Beth Sholom Camp Gan Yeladim, also in Elkins Park, have been engaged in educational and planting activities around the Mitzvah Garden this summer. The garden is a program run by the Social Action Committee at Beth Sholom to cultivate flowers, and fresh fruit and vegetables. The flowers are given to those in the community who are sick; the food is donated to those in need.

Children are working alongside adult volunteers to plant, weed, water and harvest their crops. Kids help put up cages around the peppers and tomatoes, and staked the cucumbers and squash. They have also planted some vegetables and flowers in the courtyard, having grown some of the plants from seeds.

They are also going to be making pots out of old newspapers, which will be used to start seeds that are then planted, right in line with the greening of Beth Sholom.

In addition, some of the harvested food is given to the preschool to be sold to parents; the money will be reinvested back into the garden project.

This cross-generational program obviously benefits both the adults and the children. It represents a hands-on experience to teach the younger generation about caring for others and for their environment.

For more information, call 215-887-3625, Ext. 223, or e-mail: eweingram@bethsholom congregation.org.