Little Sprouts Community Garden

A couple of weeks ago the kids and I participated in a ladybug release party at the Little Sprouts Community Garden. We released hundreds of ladybugs, learned about bugs both beneficial and pests, did some crafts, had fun with a butterfly net and bug habitat and ate some tasty snacks!

We made the cutest tie dyed butterfly craft while there. They are a simple craft for all ages. I will put up the instructions in a different post so you can make one too!

We released hundreds of ladybugs to help the garden defend against pests. We even got a bug habitat to take some home to release in our own garden.

Here are the new bohemian cottage garden lady bugs.

The Little Sprouts Community Garden is a very beautiful garden. The garden was built this year!  Here are some of the pictures of the garden.

The classrooms at the school got to participate in planting the garden earlier this spring. This is one of the plots.

 

 

I thought this herb barrel was so cool! I am thinking this would be a fun way to add more garden space in our garden. We were also able to snack on these adorable treats, which I have provided the recipes for below. They would also be fun to serve at a kids tea party or just for fun. I loved the garden theme with the snacks, Ladybug crackers and the old classic, Ants on a Log.

 

The community garden grows all sorts of plants from herbs and flowers, like this sunflower, to cabbage, corn, squash, tomatillos, peppers and tomatoes of course.

 

 

 

How make Ladybug Crackers and Ants on a Log:

For a dozen of the Ladybug Crackers:

12 Ritz crackers (or any cracker you like! Could be gluten-free)

12 Cherry tomatoes, sliced in half, but not all the way through. Use a mix of yellow and red for variety

24 inch long snipped pieces of chive for the antennae

Cream cheese, about a tablespoon shmear for each cracker. be creative, sprinkle with herbs or spices for more flavor!

Smear the cream cheese on each cracker, place the tomatoes fanned out cut side down, and place little chive antennae on the top as in the picture. Place them on a cute platter and serve your garden party guests!

For a Dozen Ants on a Log:

4 celery sticks cut into three 3 inch “logs”

2 tbsp. peanut butter for each “log”. You could also try almond butter or even flavored cream cheese.

60 raisins. You can use dried cranberries too, or a combination of the two as shown in the picture.

Smear the peanut butter into the groove of the celery stick, place your raisins on top and voila’! Ants on a log. So dang easy.

We would love to hear about the community gardens in your area and what kind of fun activities are happening there.

Be inspired and stay creative!