Summer Recipes from Gardens For Learning

By Carolina Lukac, Garden Education Manager

Gardens for Learning program sites have been in full swing during the months of July and August. From toddlers at the Little Lambs Early Learning Center in Rutland to preteens at the NOTCH Playground Summer Camp in Richford, children and youth have been harvesting from their gardens and learning how to prepare healthy snacks.  Here is a small sample of garden-inspired recipes from around the state.  Some of these recipes were prepared during my site visits to program sites, others I have added in to inspire you to enjoy fresh garden harvest with children.

Using a molcajete (a traditional Mexican mortar and pestle), children at the NOTCH Summer Camp in Richford prepared a fresh tomato salsa and enjoyed scooping up the slightly spicy salsa with homemade Chickpea Oat Crackers.

At the Bakersfield Elementary School, children have discovered a love for Swiss chard after Tammy prepared a simple sautéed dish that she plans to include in cafeteria menus for the Fall.  This recipe for Swiss Chard Pancakes is another idea for sneaking in healthy greens (and the bright green pancakes will surely be a hit!).

At Green Acres Apartments in Barre, freshly picked calendula petals added color and medicinal properties to a tasty batch of Calendula Cornmeal Mini Muffins.

On a rainy morning in Burlington, children a the Family Room in Burlington danced around and sang songs to the rhythm of shaking a jar of cream until butter magically formed in the jar.  A sprinkle of fresh garden herbs and edible flowers was the finishing touch on a finger-licking good snack.  This recipe includes some ingredient ideas for making Flower and Herb Butter.   Here are the lyrics for Shelburne Farm’s take on a buttermaking song – “Shake It, Shake It, Shake It”.

Learn more about the Gardens For Learning program here: https://vtgardens.org/gardens-for-learning/