Last week Kansas City Community Gardens’ Beanstalk Children’s Garden opened for the season.  In the first two weeks alone over 800 children have toured through the garden.  Throughout the summer and early fall, over 4,000 children, teachers and parents will visit the garden, allowing children to become inspired to make healthy food choices as they see, smell, touch and taste growing plants.

The garden is staffed by a team of 7 staff members who guide groups on hour-long tours through the garden.  When staff are not guiding tours they are watering, weeding, mulching and harvesting produce from the garden, or developing lessons and activities to teach the children as they guide them through the garden.  The garden is divided into sections and each tour provides information about the plants growing, the process in which they grow and nutritional value of eating those plants.  Children are encouraged to use their senses to explore and observe the garden.  At the end of each tour, children plant their own basil transplant which they can take home and plant in their own garden.

Families are welcome and encouraged to enjoy the garden on their own as well.  Families can visit the garden and take self-guided tours, without reservations.  Self-guided tours are free, though the Beanstalk does accept donations.

The Beanstalk is still taking reservations for summer and fall tours! Guided tours cost $2 per person. Sign up today to bring your class to the Beanstalk Children’s Garden!

Save the Date! – The Beanstalk’s Fall Family Festival will be Saturday, September 16 from 10am – 3pm

Sections of the Beanstalk:

• The Vegetable Garden is filled with colorful plants that inspire children to make healthy food choices.
• The Fruit Garden is bursting with both common and uncommon berry bushes and fruit trees.
• The Herb Garden features different types of herbs used in cooking, fragrances and medicines.
• The Seed and Grain Garden contains seed and grain plants such as corn, oats, soybeans, peanuts and popcorn.
• The Curiosity Garden is an exciting place for children to experience unusual plants like the sensitive plant.
• The Water Garden is home to fish, frogs and water plants such as papyrus, water lilies and cattails.

Other Info:

• The garden is open mid-June to mid-October

• Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm

• Saturday – 9am – 12pm

• Sunday – Closed