Looking for a great way to get your kids interested in gardening or agriculture? Why not give the Bonnie Plants Cabbage Program a try. This innovative program provides hand’s-on learning so children are better able to understand where food comes from while developing vital skills that they can carry with them throughout their life.
What is the Bonnie Plants Cabbage Program?
Many of us know of Bonnie Plants. In fact, some of our gardens are filled with plants from their gardens. But the company is much more than a plant company. They are missionaries, in a sense, with a love of vegetable gardening that they hope to pass along to young people. Each year the company delivers millions of “free” cabbage plants to third grade students throughout the country.
This program allows children the opportunity to grow their very own cabbages. Why did they choose a cabbage of all things? Cabbages were the first profitable crop sold by Bonnie in 1918, so it’s only fitting that this easy-to-grow vegetable was chosen. The children learn to care for their cabbage plants with hands-on learning in all aspects, from start to finish. In addition, they get the chance to win a “best in state” cabbage award based on size and appearance, receiving a $1,000 scholarship towards their education.
How the Program Works
It’s easy to participate in the program. Simply register your class and a Bonnie Plants salesperson will contact you and deliver the cabbage plants in time for the next growing season. Students can then grow their cabbages at home in their school’s garden, if applicable. Then all you have to do is incorporate cabbage gardening lesson plans into your class activities. All the while, the kids will be utilizing what they’ve learned in order to successfully grow and care for their cabbages. And homeschools are welcome to participate too.
At the end of the growing season, submit digital images of both the student and cabbage along with other pertinent information in the submission form. Currently serving the continental 48 states, winners in each state are randomly selected by the Commission of Agriculture via the digital image of the cabbage and student that is submitted online and entered in a drawing.
This is a great way to engage young children in what is sure to become a lifelong love of gardening.
