Specialty Crop

Children attending Platte County Daycare (PCDC) and Kids Kastle work side-by-side with childcare providers and other staff members to grow fresh vegetables and fruits, including tomatoes, zucchini, peas, carrots, lettuce and other greens, radishes, squash, peppers, corn, garlic, and strawberries in a large high tunnel (aka hoop house) and outdoor garden beds surrounding the structure.

They help plant seeds and starts, water, and harvest, among other activities. “The garden is part of our outdoor activities, and the kids really love all aspects of gardening,” says childcare provider Mary Ann Goff, who notes that fresh produce is used in lunches and served as snacks at the daycare and preschool.

The Kids Kastle Facebook page is headlined with a scene of flowers and the following quote: “Every child is a different kind of flower, and altogether make this world a beautiful garden.”